Warrior Breath

"Enough. These few words are enough.

If not these words, this breath.

If not this breath, this sitting here.

This opening to the life

we have refused

again and again

until now.

Until now." -- David Whyte

Leeann Carey, who lead the restorative yoga training I did at the end of the 3 week intensive in Hood River, read several of David Whyte's poems to us as during class. This one especially moved me.

Anand Puja lead many Kriyas (moving mediation) and this particular one was very powerful- not at all restorative, but invigorating and cleansing.

Standing with feet parallel, knees bent. Bending deeply over, with 2 strong inhales through nose, pulling arms as if grabbing something with fists up to waist; then with 2 more inhales through the nose, pushing palms of hands up as if you're lifting up an offering toward the sky, end with arms fully extending, reaching high

Using 2 strong exhales: One exhale (a "shh" sound through mouth) to push hands half way down (a downward "chi"-like motion), then another exhale pushing arms straight as if resisting through water