If you come to my yoga classes, you’ve probably learned a couple of new asanas that were inspired by my 4-year-old great-niece Lily. (Yes – I’ve graduated to the title of Great Aunt, which I lovingly cherish and also think is quite fitting since I am great at being an aunt.)
Any time I get to be around Lily, we always get down on the floor to play and eventually do a little yoga together. I love the sense of joy and freedom that she brings to the asanas, and she always teaches me to not take myself so seriously on my yoga mat. In fact, we should all follow this cue and bring a little more playfulness into our yoga practice.
Three-year-young Fiona, another great-niece has taught me more about the fine art of hugasana, with her ability to dive bomb into my arms and share her love with the HUGEST hugs.
I was recently blessed with another great-niece named Salem, and at 4 months old, she is a natural when it comes to honoring her body. This girl knows how to move herself around to positions that feel good and just naturally flows into these beautiful backbends to strengthen her back.
Humm, I think my great nieces are onto something!
Over the 4th of July weekend I got to visit both of them and spent time observing and picking up a few new yoga asanas that I’d like to share with you.
Swimasana
Inspired by Lily, come into dekasana (airplane pose), and then instead of leaving the arms at your sides, begin taking your arms forward and back like you are doing the breaststroke. The leg that is back behind you follows along with the arms, like you are kicking the legs back and then forward to support the breaststroke. This actually makes dekasana a little more challenging, but a helluva a lot more fun because you can’t do it without smiling and ultimately laughing at yourself.
Salemasana
Start by lying flat on your belly, legs together and straight behind you. Take your knees out to the sides of your yoga mat, and then lift your feet up to press the soles of the feet together.
Set your elbows under your shoulders and your forearms on the floor parallel to each other (similar to Sphinx pose). As you inhale, start to lift your head, neck, and upper torso off of the ground and into a backbend.
I don’t know if Salem had this in mind, but I directed my classes to bring awareness to their belly button, lightly drawing it away from the floor. This belly lift supports the backbend and soothes the lower back.
The final step in the pose is to plaster a big smile on your face and just look cute – after all, that is what 4-month-olds naturally do.
Hold salemasana for 5 to 10 complete rounds of breath.
To come out of the pose, exhale as you slowly release the belly and lower your torso and head to the floor. Relax and, if you like, take your head to one side and bend the knees, letting them float from left to right like a windshield wiper for a few breaths. Take a moment to pause here and deepen your breath and then repeat salemasana one or two more times.
I’m sending out a huge hug and lots of gratitude to Salem, Lily, and Fiona for teaching me about yoga and inspiring these awesome new poses. To my beautiful great nieces, I can’t wait to see you again and to continue to learn and grow my practice through your youthful energy, joy, hugs, and wisdom.
