30/07/2022
yoga on the go
While travelling, it’s easy to feel caught up in the rush of new experiences; barely adjusting to one unfamiliar culture before moving onto the next. Of course, it’s part of the fun of backpacking to succumb to the ebb and flow of the current, letting your intuition guide you in carving your own path. But when it feels as though you may be swept away by the tide, and you long for the secure roots of home, it can be overwhelming.
It’s important to remember that you are your own safe space. Find solace in the familiarity of your body, that which carries you, and is home to your mind. Learn the furniture of your psyche; know which stairs creak, and where the light dances on landing. Find the warmth of the flagstones near the aga, and the velvety darkness of the hiding place behind the curtain. You control this space. For some of us, the sofa may be well-worn, the leather cracked and supple; for others, disturbed dust motes catch the light as they pace the undiscovered corridors.
Knowing yourself provides a portable happy place. The body and the mind are intrinsically connected: bringing awareness back to the body through movement and breath naturally helps you find peace of mind.
Moving through a morning sun salutation, or surya namaska, is the perfect way to energise the body, and simple enough that I can ease into muscle memory. There are plenty of yogis on YouTube and Instagram, such as Yoga with Adriene or Move with Nicole, who I like to watch when I want a more challenging practice, but I also value the catharsis of memorising a sequence. Here, I have labelled steps six and seven as salute with eight parts (ashtanga namaskara) and cobra pose (bhujangasana) but they can be easily interchanged with chaturanga and upward facing dog (urdhva mukha shvanasan) for variety.
all artwork by me :)
The dancing warrior sequence utilises the warrior poses (virabhadrasana) in a leg strengthening vinyasa, or flow, that opens the hips and engages the core. It is also relatively easy and memorable, which makes it perfect for yoga on the go. Again, ashtanga namaskara and bhujangasana can be interchanged with chaturanga and urdhva mukha shvanasan depending on ability, and the sequence should be repeated on each leg.
Chandra namaskar is a moon salutation that soothes and relaxes the body. Intended for practice at the end of the day, this vinyasa complements the dynamic sun salutation by evoking meditative and receptive energy. The body weight pendulates from the front to the back of the mat, in a satisfying reversal of flow that can be practiced cyclically.
Thank you for visiting to read my third blog post! If you enjoyed it, and haven’t already, please click the link to see my other posts, where I introduce myself and Amy and write more about our trip to Central and South America.
