The third and final moon focussing on the heart chakra really emphasises the need for self care and taking your yoga practice at a pace that suits where you are at this moment. It is no use performing peacock if you end up in tears.
With the winter solsitce last Thursday/Friday your energy may be low, or combined with the waxing moon, are you feeling emotional, or overwhelmed? I find these to be exiting times of setting intentions for the New year, where do I see myself this time next year, what have a I got to do to get there?
At the junciton where we move from th silence of the heart, into the fifth chakra associated with sound, we chant So Ham, a reminder that sound comes from the wave of the breath moving in and out the body. So ham is a simple, humble chant that mimics the swooshing, cleansing sound of the inhale and the reflective, perhaps ambivalent, sound of the exhale. For many people finding their voice can be intimidating. By warming up the breath with a simple chant, it is one that almost anyone can do, and so build confidence gradually.
By working on the arms in challenging arm balances like crow, and side crow, the nadis in the arms are awakened activating both throat and hear chakras. Shoulderstand is the ultimate fith chakra opener. The more I practice chakra yoga, the more I become aware of the message that each chakra brings. At times, the throat chakra can bring too much truth and you have to be ready to carefully exit the pose. On the yin side of things, I have been practicing deer pose, a gentle twist with open hips and hugging a pillow; ii nourishes the heart space and sends signals of love to the self. Although yin is rooted in chinese medicine, it can be chakra focussed and I am enjoy the challenge of designing yin routines to match the yang flow through the chakras.
The throat chakra is about finding your truth, speaking your truth and living your truth. What do you want to manifest in your life? Are you being true to yourself in the actions that you take? Are you looking at yourself honestly? Are you in demial? More practically, do you speak gently, and kindly? Do you sound authentic when your speak? Do your words match your thoughts?
To love oneself even in face of painful truth is an important skill as a yogi. The road to enlightenment is not always an easy path and cultivating a compassionate, honest friend to yourself, inside your self, is the whole point of meditation and yoga practice. Self care is the means by which you love your self, even when you discover things that are not easy to swallow. Without self love it is almost impossible to progress on a journey of awakening to the self. So find your voice, but first by loving the self.
Happy Christmas
Om shanti shanti shanti
Sarasvati Flow 