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turnonmyheels) wrote2017-12-11 10:10 am
turnonmyheels) wrote2017-12-11 10:10 am
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Turned in my final paper and finished my first semester last night. The first time I went to school, I had a stereotypical all partying all the time freshman/sophomore years. GPA first semester 1.69, this time around a 3 something, depends on my paper. First freshman year I took a seminar class called "Sexual Harassment, Pornography, and the first amendment." It was awesome and tragically topical today. My other English class that year was on romantic literature.
This was my first stab at a "real" English class. We wrote four papers: descriptive narrative (#metoo response), process essay (how to make yogi tea), analysis (Harrison Bergeron), and argumentative (the vacuum paper). In lieu of a final exam, we wrote a final paper from one of the four types. I did a process essay.
It's under the cut
Conquering the Mountain
It is widely agreed that a regular yoga practice delivers a variety of benefits. A regular yoga practice can lower blood pressure, increase balance and flexibility, as well as decrease anxiety and depression. A “regular practice” consists of at least thirty minutes of yoga three or more days of the week. That is a bit more time than some people are willing to dedicate. Luckily, the power of yoga is such that you can practice for a few minutes at a time and receive the benefits of a full practice.
Simple postures work best for these short sessions; as it is hard to twist yourself into a pretzel without at least natural flexibility or a thorough warm-up. Simple does not necessarily mean easy; for example, Tadasana or Mountain Pose is a foundational posture that looks deceptively simple. It is a foundation building posture that one must become comfortable with before moving onto more difficult postures such as the Warrior poses or Sun Salutations.
Basic Tadasana starts from a standing position with your feet a comfortable distance apart. Take a moment to rock back and forth on your heels then try and spread your toes as far apart as you can. Relax the feet and settle both firmly to the floor, spreading the toes apart as far as comfortable. There should be a tiny bend to the knee so that you are not locking your joints. Hips, knees, and toes all face the same direction. Once your lower body is settled begin aligning your spine. Inhale and try to lengthen the spine as much as possible. If you have a sway-back you may need to tuck your tailbone under a bit to lengthen the lower back as much as possible. Draw the belly-button in towards the spine. To do this imagine there is a string connecting your belly-button to the spine, on your next inhale shorten that string. Shoulders should be pointing the same direction as your hips, knees, and feet. Actively push the shoulders down away from your ears, then draw the shoulder blades slightly together. Now that the core and lower body are engaged, make sure the eyes are facing the same direction as shoulders, hips, knees, and toes. Reach up through the crown of the head and feel the neck lengthen. You are now in standing mountain posture. You may close your eyes and just take a moment or two to breathe.
Seated mountain is a great modification if you are not able-bodied, at work, or driving. Sit so that both sitz bones are firmly on the chair (or ground). Knees and feet should be hip distance apart. Moving up the body into the core, make sure the belly button is drawn inward, lengthen down the spine slightly tucking the tailbone under for a lower back stretch. Shoulders push down and back, crown of the head reaching to the sky. You are in seated mountain posture, with your eyes open or closed breathe with purpose. Inhale and exhale completely.
Reclining mountain works best in private since you must lie down. The floor is preferrable, but a firm mattress or couch will do. Lie on your back, wiggle around until you can feel most of your spine pressing into the floor (or mattress). Starting with the lower body, your feet should be a comfortable distance apart as well as flexed. Nose, shoulders, hips, knees, and toes all point straight up. Lengthen the spine, tilting the tailbone if necessary. The core should also be engaged by drawing the belly button toward the spine. Now, you are in reclining mountain posture.
While a full yoga practice may not be possible, practicing individual postures for a moment or two at a time can still deliver yogic benefits. Simple poses such as Mountain Pose and it’s modifications are a great place to start building your foundation.
This was my first stab at a "real" English class. We wrote four papers: descriptive narrative (#metoo response), process essay (how to make yogi tea), analysis (Harrison Bergeron), and argumentative (the vacuum paper). In lieu of a final exam, we wrote a final paper from one of the four types. I did a process essay.
It's under the cut
Conquering the Mountain
It is widely agreed that a regular yoga practice delivers a variety of benefits. A regular yoga practice can lower blood pressure, increase balance and flexibility, as well as decrease anxiety and depression. A “regular practice” consists of at least thirty minutes of yoga three or more days of the week. That is a bit more time than some people are willing to dedicate. Luckily, the power of yoga is such that you can practice for a few minutes at a time and receive the benefits of a full practice.
Simple postures work best for these short sessions; as it is hard to twist yourself into a pretzel without at least natural flexibility or a thorough warm-up. Simple does not necessarily mean easy; for example, Tadasana or Mountain Pose is a foundational posture that looks deceptively simple. It is a foundation building posture that one must become comfortable with before moving onto more difficult postures such as the Warrior poses or Sun Salutations.
Basic Tadasana starts from a standing position with your feet a comfortable distance apart. Take a moment to rock back and forth on your heels then try and spread your toes as far apart as you can. Relax the feet and settle both firmly to the floor, spreading the toes apart as far as comfortable. There should be a tiny bend to the knee so that you are not locking your joints. Hips, knees, and toes all face the same direction. Once your lower body is settled begin aligning your spine. Inhale and try to lengthen the spine as much as possible. If you have a sway-back you may need to tuck your tailbone under a bit to lengthen the lower back as much as possible. Draw the belly-button in towards the spine. To do this imagine there is a string connecting your belly-button to the spine, on your next inhale shorten that string. Shoulders should be pointing the same direction as your hips, knees, and feet. Actively push the shoulders down away from your ears, then draw the shoulder blades slightly together. Now that the core and lower body are engaged, make sure the eyes are facing the same direction as shoulders, hips, knees, and toes. Reach up through the crown of the head and feel the neck lengthen. You are now in standing mountain posture. You may close your eyes and just take a moment or two to breathe.
Seated mountain is a great modification if you are not able-bodied, at work, or driving. Sit so that both sitz bones are firmly on the chair (or ground). Knees and feet should be hip distance apart. Moving up the body into the core, make sure the belly button is drawn inward, lengthen down the spine slightly tucking the tailbone under for a lower back stretch. Shoulders push down and back, crown of the head reaching to the sky. You are in seated mountain posture, with your eyes open or closed breathe with purpose. Inhale and exhale completely.
Reclining mountain works best in private since you must lie down. The floor is preferrable, but a firm mattress or couch will do. Lie on your back, wiggle around until you can feel most of your spine pressing into the floor (or mattress). Starting with the lower body, your feet should be a comfortable distance apart as well as flexed. Nose, shoulders, hips, knees, and toes all point straight up. Lengthen the spine, tilting the tailbone if necessary. The core should also be engaged by drawing the belly button toward the spine. Now, you are in reclining mountain posture.
While a full yoga practice may not be possible, practicing individual postures for a moment or two at a time can still deliver yogic benefits. Simple poses such as Mountain Pose and it’s modifications are a great place to start building your foundation.
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