My husband and I are always looking for creative ways for our daughter to learn what is necessary for her age. We strive to keep learning fun by making up songs or silly phrases, whatever makes it entertaining. Through our research we realized that she also needs to be given the opportunity to create her own creativity.
Hmmmm…. Create our own creativity.

This is something that many of us forget to do or have seldom been given the challenge to do so.
Fellow yogi(ni)s will tell you that I am always encouraging them to find movement in each posture, play with each pose. Get Creative. Sometimes I feel that Yoga has become this rigid, ‘do only what I say’ practice, which is sad.   However, when I first started teaching it drove me crazy when someone would move into a different expression of the pose than what I was trying to teach… I thought they were being rude and disrespectful!!  How dare they?!   As I became more confident in my ability to teach, I realized this was actually the best form of flattery.  They’ve embraced the options, they are applying what they have learned and  finding their own practice.  Yippee!! 

“Listen to your body.”  “Listen to your body.”  “Listen to your body.”  I sound like a broken record, or for those who are too young to know what that is… a skipping CD.  No two poses ever look the same, no two bodies are built exactly the same, why should we look like a room full of robots in a Yoga practice?  

If we are in a Headstand, Shoulderstand, Bridge or a posture where the neck is not mobile, then be cautious.  Other than that, feel free to add a gentle movement,  bend the knees, softly sway, lift the heels, extend a leg….  just play!  Often times, we realize through these movements how the pose is supposed to fit the body.  When we do only what we are told to do then we find ourselves making our body fit the pose.  Let the pose fit the body.  Come up with expressions of the poses that add spice and flava!  Let our Boat Pose sink or sail or row.  Let our Downward Facing Dog go for a walk or let our Tree sway in the breeze… whatever it is, have fun with it. 

Until.Next.Time.Namaste.

Carrisa

Each Yogi assumes responsibility for their own practice. Yoga Untwisted will not be held responsible for any injury obtained while practicing these postures. Always honor your ability & limitations.