Restorative Sequence

While practicing a Restorative Sequence be inclusive, intrinsic, intuitive & conscious while feeling, breathing and listening.  Stay in each pose a few minutes.  Use blankets and pillows for comfort and support.
 
1.)  Upright Legs (Supta Dandasana) - Lengthen legs up a wall or head board.  Stretch tailbone through to the top of the head.  Aligning while stretching the hamstrings group of muscles and back; depending on flexibility move closer or further from the support.

2.)  Supine Butterfly (Baddha Konasana) - Touch feet together with knees splayed apart, opening and stretching the adductor muscles (inner thighs including groin) Relax and breathe long and slow feeling at ease.
 
3.)  Supine Twist or Revolved Stomach (Jathra Padangusthasana) - Bring knees towards the chest then place knees to one side, rest, then move to the other side.  Lay with head facing away from knees.  This pose benefits the stomach and other internal organs. 
 
4.)  Fish (Matsyasana) - Elongate the body.  Place hands underneath the body aligning forarms.  Lift the chest towards the sky, arching the back away from the Earth and relax the head.  This is an anti-aging pose.

5.)  Feet to Hands (Apanasana) - bring knees towards chest and hold the soles of the feet while laying on your back.  Feel the spine lengthen.  Place hands under knees or hold arms at the elbows as another option.

6.)  Final Relaxation [S(h)avasana] - Relax shoulders back and down by lifting up and gently squeezing the rhomboids - muscles connecting the shoulder blades at the back side heart center.  Articulate through the spine from the tailbone to the first vertebrae at the top of the neck (cervical spine).  Roll eyes back into their sockets and breathe through the entire body beginning with toes and fingers, opening through the abs and expanding the chest.  Upon exhalation feel the body relax completely.
While breathing use the mantra "Let" on the inhalation and "Go" on the exhalation to let go of a tight, tense and/or sore body and/or mind.  Be accepting, feeling for what you have done, loving, listening, smiling and appreciating yourself and the world around you.  Feel restored with a reinvigorated mind and body.

Truthfullness (Satya) & 5th Energy Center (Vishudha Chakra) Associations

One of the most important life lessons I have learned is 'honesty is the best policy'; knowing silence (listening) is just as important. The 5th power center of the pharyngeal plexus (throat) associated with communication, cooperation, collaboration and consensus is also associated with listening. 

A balanced 5th energy center (Vishudha Chakra) draws from the heart and brow center to speak kind and true; interconnecting the characteristics of kindness, caring, and compassion along with clarity, vision and intuition. Incorrect words and angry yelling can occur or a person may not speak up for them-self or someone else when the 5th Chakra is imbalanced. 

Balance by visualizing the color blue and element of sound while meditating (thinking/praying) around nature sounds. Continue enhancing the ability of the 5th energy center by thinking of happy, healthy, wealthy and wise associations (emboldened). 

To experience a subtle energy (Chakra) balance take care of yourself by speaking the good and true realities of life, remembering to wage peace by pleading the 5th because taking an oath of silence does not implicate one-self with wrong doing.  Integral to the first ashtanga (classic) yoga principle of ahimsa (non-harming) - taking care not harm yourself or someone else; you have the inherent right to speak.  Try a Yoga Training (Touch) Aroma-Restorative to heal, balance and rejuvenate; notice the effects.