Springing Forward

Today's' Yoga-Snack's theme was the entry of springtime. The feeling of new energy, grounding ourselves to the earth and standing strong, facing the change of the season.

We sat in easy pose and opened up our throat chakra by chanting or the toning of our voices. We started with a breath in and then out while toning the letter "A" (as in Play); breath in, breath out... "E" (as in "Ease"); breath in, breath out..."I" (as in "Identity"): breath in, breath out..."O" (as in "Ohm"); breath in, breath out..."U" (as in "You"); and breath in, breath out..."Y" (as in "Why"). Another good idea for clearing your throat is to drink water with a little peppermint oil in it.

A short, silent, still meditation followed and then easy stretches (arm out to one side, lean on it and take the other arm by your ear and then overhead) and an easy twist, to get rid of the winter's tired blood and let in some new energetic springtime blood.

Starting in child's pose, we became seeds, getting ready to grow. We all picked what kind of plant we wanted to be and then slowly we took root and started to grow, very slowly. Feeling grounded in the earth but at the same time starting to reach up to the sky. Pausing in table top (on all fours), then cat and cow, curl toes under and downward facing dog pose. Jumping forward, reaching up to the sky, bending over to touch the ground, flat back, stepping into plank pose; holding for 5 counts and lowering to the ground. Up into upward facing dog pose; down to the ground. Press back into child's pose and breath slow and easy. Repeat Sun Salutation and then immediately go into lunges, back leg stretched out, front knee over foot, hands first to knees, then hands above head. Repeat other side without resting. Then child's pose for final time.

Sitting up, we sang "Happiness Runs" (by Shakta Kaur Khalsa) along with the accompanying hand movements. I explained we would try later on to do it as a round and I brought up singing "Row Row Row Your Boat" which we promptly tried to sing in a round (got a good dose of laughing yoga there).

Low squat prepares us to try a balance pose-Hands to floor, lift with "cat pose" muscles (lower abs first) to try and get feet off the floor.

Then wide legged forward bend (Prasarita Padottanasana).

Warrior Series: Warrior I-to-Warrior III-to-standing splits-even trying to hold the standing ankle with one or two hands for an extra balance challenge.

Group tree while some of the students serenaded us with their own favorite songs.

Lying down, simple twist. Then into Halasana, plow pose to clear our bodies in preparation for the spring. Up into shoulder stand. Back to plow pose. Roll forward into seated forward bend.

Savasana with "The Rain Falls And The Sky Shudders" by Moby (OK this one is now officially on my yoga play list). Some kids chose to roll themselves up in their mats for a little relaxation and compression.

Ole Namaste!