ENERGY = FUEL
We have two main sources of fuel to energise all functions in our bodies from movement to every metabolic chemical reaction in our cells. These two sources are food and oxygen. To get these two sources into all the cells of our bodies we need to supply them with fuel in the form of good quality food as close to nature as possible and fresh air. Below I discuss what yoga tools we will use in this sequence to help build energy. But there is another very valuable tool that can be used on and off the mat to create energy. Challenging yourself brings oxygen to the brain and wakes you up. Challenging yourself on your mat can be as simple as staying an extra breath in a strong standing pose or really focusing in a standing balancing pose. Challenging yourself off your mat might mean being comfortable with occasionally stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things, waking yourself up and not spending your days on autopilot.
HOW TO BUILD ENERGY
In our practice we can assist the two systems that are in charge of taking in food and oxygen – the digestive system and the respiratory system – and the system that helps distribute and transport it – the circulatory system.
The digestive system, or the enteric nervous system, processes food, absorbs nutrition, and removes toxins. Moving and massaging the digestive system with twists and backbends help to maximise absorption and detoxification – feeding the cells and removing toxins that will interfere with their efficient functionality. They also bring fresh blood flow to the blood vessels in the walls of the digestive system which helps the circulatory system distribute this fuel source around the whole body. Massaging the gut helps to keep you regular by encouraging peristalsis in the walls of the gut to move the waste food along. Once the body has taken what it needs from our food it is very important to remove the waste so that it doesn’t stagnate in our gut.
The respiratory system fuels our cells with oxygen so they can grow and replicate. Breathing feeds the cells and flushes out the by-product of carbon dioxide. In our practice, when we inhale our heart rate increases, the cells receive oxygen, and we feel energised. The circulatory system then takes over and helps to distribute the oxygen to our whole body. While backbends will help to expand the lungs and bring in more oxygen, the challenge of standing poses and standing balancing poses create heat and help boost circulation.
EXPLORING ENERGISING FLOW IN YOUR PRACTICE
This sequence is part of a series of sequences where I look at how yoga can help regulate our moods. Each of these sequences start with the same warm up that will move all the main joints of the body – the spine, shoulders and hips. This repetition gives you ‘comfort in familiarity’ as you can practice this series, while at the same time ensuring you are warmed up and ready for the themed mini flows that follow.
The sequence has lots of standing poses and standing balancing poses to boost circulation, expand the lungs and wake the thinking brain up. It also has plenty of poses that will massage the digestive system. Notice your energy levels before, during and after your practice. Be open to challenges and when you encounter one breath into it. .
ALIGNMENT CUES
There is no specific peak pose in this easy going flow. Use the cues below to help you flow through the sequence with ease and fluidity.
Have a read of the tips below and either print out the sequence or save it onto your device:
Use the breath guide in the sequence to help you link breath with movement in the flow. Inhale is indicated with a ‘+’, exhale is a ‘-”.
In the warm up focus your attention on the area you are warming up as indicated by the sequence.
If there are specific poses that you would like to stay longer in, give yourself three deep breaths in those poses and pick up the next pose with the allocated inhale or exhale as indicated by the sequence.
For a longer practice, linger in each of the poses of the three mini flows for the first round and then move with the breath for the second and third round.
To save the images for personal use click and hold down the image until the ‘save image’ option appears; on Mac hold down ‘control’ and click the image to get the option box; on PC right click on the image to get the option box. Scroll down in the ‘option box’ and click ‘save image’.
Ruth Delahunty Yogaru