BKS Iyengar writes, “In this extreme extension of the back of the body the ego becomes subdued and the mind quiet.”
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His Holiness, The 14th Dalai Lama
the effects of compassion on the global community…
jathara parivartanasana
benefits: massages and stimulates abdominal organs; stretches and releases lower back muscles…
purvottanasana
benefits: strengthens wrists and arms, ankles and legs; opens shoulders and chest; balances the effects of strong forward bends; invigorates the body and spirit; promotes a sense of playfulness and joy.
virabhadrasana I
benefits: Strengthens and stretches the legs; opens the hips; improves upper back and shoulder flexibility; creates stability, strength, and balance. Patricia Walden writes, “Women feel powerful and strong in this pose. It’s great for relieving joint stiffness in older women.”
Inside The Yoga Sutras: The Keys to Peace (1.33)
“By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and disregard toward the wicked, the mind-stuff retains its undisturbed calmness.”
parivrtta trikonasana
benefits: increases blood flow to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs, strengthens legs and torso, brings stability to the body, tones abdominal organs.
Seva: Selfless Service
The Sanskrit word Seva translates directly as “thread”, implying that all things are connected in the thread of existence. To engage with one is to engage with the whole. Likewise, to serve one is to serve the whole.
dhanurasana
benefits: strengthens back muscles; stretches abdominal and chest muscles; opens shoulder joints; increases flexibility in spine; counteracts effects of prolonged sitting; brings a sense of joy
ardha chandrasana
Benefits: strengthens and stretches the legs; brings flexibility into the hips; improves balance and confidence; calms the mind and improves concentration
baddha konasana
Strengthens back and leg muscles; opens the abdomen and chest; increases flexibility in shoulders and upper back; counteracts the effects of long periods of sitting; stimulates the thyroid; helps ease depression and high blood pressure; balances the nervous system.