Yoga for Joy and Peace
A 30 minute yoga sequence I co-wrote as part of my yoga instructor training certification.
Details
When: Saturday, January 27, 2024
Where: Palisades Yoga
With: Rayna Harris and Jashua Denis
Key Actions: Heart Opening and Heart Chakra Centered
Spinal Effects: Enlivening, Axial Extension
Theme: Yoga for Joy and Peace
Book Recommendation: Yoga for the Joy of It!
This practice was created with you in mind, the being who deserves to feel happy, joyful and at peace without needing any other reason. This 60 minute yoga class begins with a centering meditation, moves you through sun salutation variations, with the intention of cultivating joy; and ends with a restorative practice centered around inner peace, relaxation, happiness. Using the body, breath and mind as a vehicle, this full body practice will guide you through a series of extending, back/forward bending, twisting, and inverted poses with the intention of connecting you with your heart space and inner being. Here, we emphasize poses and modifications of poses that focus on opening the heart to joy and peace.
Asanas
Supine Stretches
Heart Opening Flows
Half Salutation with a Twist
Low Lunge Sun Salutation
Warrior I Sun Salutation
Warrior II Flow
Warrior III Flow
Heart Opening Asanas
Hip Opening Asanas
Inversions
Relaxation and Meditation
All images from Shutterstock.
Closing Thoughts
We couldn’t truly enjoy sunshine without experiencing rain, and even after the harshest rainstorm, there is usually a rainbow well on its way.
So if you aren’t feeling happy, joyful or at peace, at any point in time; appreciate the contrast.
This feeling is your compass to know that this moment isn’t the end, and a reminder that there is always an opportunity to return to a peaceful state through your intention, thinking, feeling, and any aligned action.
Cultivate peace & fulfillment from within, and share it with the outside.
Trust that you have everything you need for this journey of life, and help is always readily available.
You can’t get it wrong, and you’ll never get it all done, enjoy the journey.
Namaste ~
Music
Notes: The playlist start with 2 minutes of silence for a brief class introduction. The song “Joy” is meant to be played while yogis rest in Savasana. Nina Simone’s song “Feeling Good” and Bob Marlesy’s song accompany the supine asanas and heart open asanas, respectively. The half and low lunge slations can be peformed during the song Colors, with an emphasis on inhaling and exhaling on the 8 count. Be sure to shake a little after completing a Sun Salutaiotn with Warrior I pose while listening to James Brown. The upbeat “Strawberry Letter 23” is perfect for flowing between warrior II varations and goddess pose, and the slower-pacess happiness song offers a chance to pause in stillness and examine the balanced nature of life. Finally, low frequence sounds are played are used to future calm the mind, body, and spirit for relatation and meditation.
