Finding My Inner Power & Peace

Rudra Hand Mudra: Ruler of the solar plexus chakra

Affirmation: "I draw power and peace from my center."

Hello My Dancing Friends!

For the past few weeks I have had this need to "work" my abdominal muscles, in particular my transverse abdominis muscles. It is a way for me to connect to my center, my hara, and my inner strength during times when I have lost this connection. It doesn't matter the reasons I have lost the connection. What matters is getting it back! When I strengthen my abdominal muscles and engage them with my breath physically I feel stronger and more stable, emotionally more confident, mentally I am able to focus on what I need to do (maybe even say No to some of the things!) and spiritually I am in tune with who I am. It makes sense since my center is associated with the 3rd chakra, manipura or solar plexus (called the will and power center), and that is the area I am breathing into and unblocking with this work! When I am finished and I am resting, my sensation is Peace. Through Power I find Peace.

With all that is going on in the world and the rush around the holiday season, my hope in my Yoga and Nia classes this week is to help you connect to your inner power through movement that incorporates some of this abdominal strengthening. Don't worry, it will be fun, we will be dancing our belly and hips, and you may just find some muscles that have been asleep for awhile. HA!

One of the best ways to find & engage your transverse abdominal muscles is to lie on your back with your knees bent and heels close to your gluts. Place each hand on your hip points, and slightly flatten your lower back by tilting your pelvis towards you (up). In-between your hip points are your transverse abdominal muscles. Think of them like a girdle or corset that wraps around the back and the front of your trunk. Take a nice big inhale, and then as you exhale, draw your belly button in allowing the hip points to move closer to each other. Inhale and let your belly fill. Exhale draw the hip points towards each other again. It's almost like pulling on a drawstring that pulls the hip points towards each other on the exhale. Do this about 5-10 times. When finished, on your next inhale draw your hands out to the side allowing your belly and chest to fully expand and rest, relaxing your jaw. How do you feel?

Let's together find our Inner Power and Peace. Check out my class schedule HERE! .

Namaste,

Joanie