Lunges With Kriya; An Explorer Series

Recently I was asked to teach yoga to a group of runners.¹ The kids ranged in age from ten to fourteen. We sat (Padmasana) upright, stood (Tadasana) in alignment, strengthed our cores in plank/hover (Chaturanga Dandasana), simulated a hill workout with Explorer Poses (Virabhadrasana), worked our balance with Tree Pose (Vrksasana) and expanded our chests during Wheel Pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana) for improved lung capacity. Yet we did not practice energy enlivening breath; they had, after-all, just returned from a run.

Speaking of energy enlivened breath, while attending Kirtan to listen to faith (ishvara pranidhana) stories, chant (mantra), breath (pranayama) and practice postural (asana) awareness while meditating (dhyana), one particular Wednesday evening; kriya was mentioned.² Previously, I had been taught kriya while studying Yoga in India during a time of fast paced aerobic activity.³ Most of my clients at Yoga Training (Touch) & Retreat have heard the expression.

This night at Kirtan I listened to the excerpt about kriya and integrated personal experience. The new found knowledge of the power of this breath (with body) became more special. Later, I decided to don the term as a single word of expression as a one mile racer.⁴ Now, with new plans for a process to follow intentions I will use kriya; focusing with special synergizing breath while running onward.

Specifically, kriya is a yogin power. Generally, yoga is beneficial in many ways, it can be used to calm the body and quiet the mind and/or enliven the mind and energize the body. Plus, specific movements and breath can heal our mind/body and improve performance. Yoga's eight limbs include sensory withdrawl, focus and meditation which lead to Oneness; being super.⁵

Tapas,⁶ a branch from a limb, is translated as discipline or more literally as “practice changing heat”. Tapas helps us to quiet and/or enliven ourselves bringing us balance. Harmonizing our breath with our movements slow and relaxed to be calm, cool and collected or fast and quick to be awake, aware and enthusiastic; connecting us to our bliss, physical presence, energy/emotions and intellect so we may be happy, healthy, wealthy and wise!

If you also, have interest in racing a mile or running any distance; if you run for fun, socially and/or competitively yoga can help. Try fast paced, kriya, yoga any time; these yoga moves can be used as a running workout and/or integrated into training. The mat exercises synergize mind/body awareness. Remember, a breath for each movement!

Begin standing (Tadasana). Move through standing squat (Utkatasana) and forward bend (Uttanasana) to runner's lunge (Anjaneyasana). Here the kriya begins; inhale focus on the back leg and engage the front leg muscles (quadriceps) to straighten and lengthen the back leg, then exhale the back leg forward towards the chest., all while taking the front leg back – continue switching legs and breathing. Engage the anterior muscles of the neck (jalandhara bandha). Extend, from the heal of the back leg to the top of the head, lengthening the body. Engage the pelvic floor muscles (mula bandha) and feel the sensation reverberate up to engage the core muscles (udiyana bandha). Keep repeating while feeling the bandhas.

Inhaling, move into crescent lunge. Exhaling, pressing the front foot's heel towards the ground feeling strength at the base of the spine. Inhaling arch the back and lift the chest. While stabilizing the body exhale and twist the torso, hands at heart center, towards the inside (medially). Move deeper to bind, placing the lower arm under the thigh and upper arm behind the back near the waist and grip hands together, if you are able. Gently, release back to center. Inhaling lifting the torso up. Next, twist to the other-side (laterally). Exhaling, hinge forward over the front leg, twist and bind. If you need to inhale stop the movement breathe and then move deeper into the pose on the exhales. Place shoulder towards thigh, armpit to the out-side of the leg, place lower arm under the front leg and bind by placing the upper arm behind the back near the waist and grasping hands if you are able. Then, gently releasing and returning to center.

Continue the Runner's Workout. Inhale and move into Explorer I (Virabhadrasana Ekam) by pigeoning the back foot by placing the heal down in back with the toes slightly ahead to protect the knee. Feel the weight from the outer edge of the foot and back of the leg to the buttox (gluteal muscles). The back leg is the support and strength of the pose. Twist the torso so the sternum aligns with the front knee by pressing the back hip forward and bringing the front hip back, this releases fat from around the waist and hips, with arms overhead, long and strong press them towards your ears, strengthening the chest muscles (pectorals) as the hands move closer together.

Next, exhale and open into Explorer II (Virabhadrasana Dve) by opening the hips, torso and arms. Straighten the torso, aligning tailbone with the top of the head, perpendicular to the ground. Relax shoulders down, lunging lower, aligning the front knee with the second toe of the foot with heals and toes aligning; not pigeon toed or duck footed. Arms are parallel to the ground, gaze to the horizon, chin aligning with the front arm.

Finally, inhale and lift into Reverse Explorer (Virabhadrasana variation) by keeping the forward thigh parallel to the ground and reaching the same arm towards the sky, stretching that side of the body while squeezing the backside torso (obliques) and resting the back-side arm; hand towards the Earth. Remember the strength and stability of the pose comes from the back leg. By placing the outer edge of back foot towards the Earth and squeezing the back side glutes and obliques the body becomes strong.

Switch sides. Here you have the option of more kriya with Runner's Lunge (Anjaneyasana) and moving from Crescent Lunge (Anjaneyasana variation) with twists and binds through Virabhadrasana Ekam, Dve and Reverse. Rest in Downward Facing Dog (Adhomukha Svanasana) and Child's Pose (Balasana) as you choose. Do as many sets as you like!

Bibliography

1. Johnson, Sarah (2015). Tread Lightly, After-school “Run” Program for 10-14 year olds. MT, USA.
2. Halloway, Joy (Winter 2015). Kirtan session. MT, USA.
3. Jayakumar, Swameesri (Nov./Dec. 2008). Yoga Session. Mysore, India.
4. Zombro, John (Feb. 2015). Montana Master's Mile (M3) E-mail Application. MT, USA.
5. Chopra, Deepak with Gotham (2011). “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes: Harnessing Our Power to Change the World” p. 36 ¶ 1. Harper Collins NY, NYUSA.
6. Bachman, Nicholi (2004). “The Language of Yoga” p. 19. Sounds True Publishing Boulder, CO, USA.

Yoga As Medicine (Yoga Therapy)

Yoga is a way of using our minds and bodies to feel good (therapeutic effects). Try cow's face (ghomukhasana) arms for shoulder flexibility and care. Use yoga breathing (pranayama) for energy and filtered air. Practice swan-feather pose (pinca-hamsasana) for lumbago and mind/body awareness. Yoga can be anecdotal for anyone; here are a few ways yoga has been medicinal for me.


Once, while snowboarding I fell off a rail and swiped my shoulder going down. My deltoids felt bruised (bleeding from the inside) and battered, of no use; possibly dislocated. Whatever the case, I was in grave pain.
Usually, I can deal and end up feeling fine. This time, was different; I sat on the deck of the lodge contemplating calling an ambulance. I couldn't drive in this state, I was dazed and confused. Where as, I have driven to the emergency room arm raised, while bleeding with no problem.

Anyway, my only reprieve was sitting in gomukhasana (cows face) arms. The arm of my hurt shoulder hugging behind my back reaching towards my cervical spine (neck) and the other arm reaching up past my ear bent at the elbow inching down my neck. I grasped my fingers together and held on despite the raging I felt through my shoulder.

I sat in ghomukhasana imagining an ambulance driving to the rescue while the pose did it's work. Finally, ten to twenty minutes later I released my hands from the pose (asana). Blood gushed (pumped) through my shoulder; range of motion intact.
I didn't ride the rest of the day. I enjoyed the sunshine and the fact I made it through major grief. I felt happy knowing I could survive and continue to ride another day, a different hour; albeit, more cautiously.

I continued to use cow's face arms diligently. Especially, that day and when I felt pain throughout the week and months ahead I'd reach into pose. Saved by the beneficial (therapeutic) effects of yoga.




Ironically I felt protected from smoke while working to put it out as a Wildland firefighter, but had no control over inhaling it as a "civilian". Over the next decade the air was seasonally smoky. During this time, I jogged in the midst of smoke; I recalled yoga breathing, breathing in and out of the nose only. I began using the technique while jogging. Snot poured out my nostrils, I became self-conscious but resolved to naturally filter the air; I was breathing .

Initially, I felt claustrophobic like I wasn't getting a full breath. However, I kept practicing and no longer needed an inhaler for the adult-onset asthma I had experienced. Difficulty breathing was now a non-issue. Simply, because I focused on pranayama (breathing), literally translated as "life force". The human body is truly its own best medicine.




Swan Feather Pose (Pinca-Hamsasana) a third example of yoga therapy came into my life after many months of misery. I awoke from sleep unable to get out of bed. I was paralyzed. I literally couldn't walk. I'd been going through some extreme life changes. My life felt like it was caving in on me and now I had to crawl like a baby.

I moved to Studio 18A. Grateful, for the square footage and beautiful views for private trainings. A Partner Yoga Session was scheduled; my clients entered. I had been crawling to get around and upon their arrival was able to stand, although the pain was debilitating. I greeted these clients with a smile, pretending I was perfectly okay. I sank down into a squat, as I began verbalizing ques. The session was a relative success for I could stand while squatting felt therapeutic. I went to a chiropractor and masseuse to enliven my body and decrease the sacral pain.


That year I attended a four day Yoga Therapy workshop. We breathed, chakra balanced, spoke about subtle energy and used hand symbols (mudras) to align and center along with gems, colors and aromas. We spoke about the process of healing and the importance of mind over matter. However, I was still feeling sacral pain and misalignment.

The final day of the Mind Body Conference we continually worked on asana. I was introduced to pinca-hamsasana. Many teachers chose not to move into the pose, yet I consistently inverted in this prone arm balance. The sacral pain ceased; I felt cured.



The healing process is truly amazing - Yoga can lead the way! Simply use the above yoga practices or better yet, cultivate your own. The examples prove asana and pranayama improve strength, balance and flexibility. As the saying goes, "movement is medicine..."