Nichol's TIPs: Svarga Dvijasana, finding AWE, and standing strong
WELCOME to Nichol's TIPs - a weekly newsletter where I share a TUTORIAL, some INSPIRATION, and a PRACTICE.
This week, we'll explore Svarga Dvijasana (Bird of Paradise), finding AWE, and standing strong.
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SVARGA DVIJASANA (Bird of Paradise) TUTORIAL
***click here to watch tutorial video
STEP 1.
Find a STRONG FOUNDATION - foot placement and muscular activation.
"Spread and press down lightly through your toes to lift the arches of your feet. Lengthen from top to bottom, and hug in through the outer hip of your standing leg."
STEP 2.
Build from the GROUND UP.
"Press down firmly into your standing foot. Keep pressing away from the floor as you stand all the way up. Establish the strong foundation you found in step 1."
STEP 3.
Finding the ARM BIND.
"Begin in warrior 2 with a strap in your back hand. Lean your torso inside your front leg and wrap your arm underneath your thigh. Wrap your other arm behind your back and guide the strap down to your other hand."
AND FINALLY, PUT IT ALL TOGETHER!
QUOTE and a QUESTION for INSPIRATION
QUOTE.
by Dacher Keltner, who is a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and the director of the Greater Good Science Center:
"What most commonly led people around the world to feel awe? Nature? Spiritual practice? Listening to music? In fact, it was other people's courage, kindness, strength, or overcoming. Around the world, we are most likely to feel awe when moved by moral beauty....."
- Source: AWE: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner
QUESTION.
Can you recall a time when you felt awe when moved by moral beauty? What was it about this other person's courage, kindness, strength, or overcoming that inspired you? Which characteristics or behaviors of this person would you like to emulate and why?
Standing Strong PRACTICE
Here is a LINK to a short practice that features bird of paradise (37min in). This practice focuses on standing strong, and moves through bird of paradise on the way to some arm balances.
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Until next week,
Nichol Chase