Yoga For Energy

When life feels out of control, teacher Sara Clark suggests opening your energy channels to raise your vibration and increase your stress resilience.

It's easy to feel like life is spinning out of control during a time of opposition, when there seems to be one tragedy after another. When we feel powerless, we are more likely to stay in a constant state of fight or flight, which can lead to illness in the body. As we face new challenges, it is critical that our nervous system functions as efficiently as possible. In times of difficulty, our goal is to raise our vibration so that our bodies and minds can rest and digest everything that is going on around us.

When prana flows efficiently, both our voluntary and involuntary functions function at peak levels, from deeper community connections to healthier digestion, more restful sleep, and increased stress resilience! That's right, allowing more energy to flow through your body can improve your ability to deal with stress effectively, thus improving your overall well-being. Try this sequence, which is designed to ground and calm the mind before moving through invigorating poses that emphasize connecting breath with movement. Set an intention to support your day to complete the practice. Take a deep breath and prepare to let your energy flow!

Position your feet hip-width apart. Deeply bend your knees and invite your body to fold so that your belly rests on your thighs. Clasp the opposite elbow with the opposite hand and breathe slowly for 3–5 cycles, inhaling to a count of 5 and exhaling to a count of 5. Allow your weight to shift forward into the tops of your feet and back into your heels as you sway side to side. Allowing your body to rock and sway, similar to how a mother would rock a baby, calms your nervous system.

Step your feet apart, slightly wider than hip-width. Allow your arms to extend straight out in front of you, palms open. Begin to sway side to side, twisting at the waist, and swing your arms like empty coat sleeves. Allow the hand crossing the front of your body to tap your chest around the heart region, while the hand swinging behind you taps your back around the kidney region as you twist and allow your arms to swing. Connect your breath to the slow, smooth swings from right to left; inhale when twisting right, exhale when twisting left. Allow your body to naturally come to a halt after 10–15 rotations and find stillness.

Step your feet slightly wider apart than hip-width apart and bend your knees slightly. On an inhale, float your straightened arms forward in a gentle fist, then out to the sides, then up toward the sky. Exhale with a "ha" as you fold and let your arms drop. Inhale throughout the movement of your arms, taking in a little more air each time they move forward, out, or up. As you fold, exhale. You may notice that your body wants to bounce as you move, so keep a slight bend in your knees and enjoy the dance of breath and body!

Begin in a high lunge, bending your front leg at a 90-degree angle with your knee aligned above your heel. Keep your back leg strong and straight as you heel up and root into the ball of your back foot. Float your arms above your head, palms open and facing each other. Shift your bodyweight forward on an inhale, balancing on your front foot as you lift your back leg, hugging the lifted leg in toward your chest with your foot flexed. Exhale and thrust your arms down, kicking your lifted leg straight ahead, foot flexed and hands in loose fists, as soon as your lifted leg draws into your chest.

Place your feet hip-width apart and stand tall. Root into all four corners of your feet, including both sides of your heels, big toes, and little toes. Lift your arms up, wider than shoulder-width apart, palms facing each other with a gentle smile. Lift your chin away from your chest and lift your chest up victoriously with a relaxed gaze. As you stand tall for 10 breaths, concentrate on your strength and power.

Place your feet hip-width apart and stand tall. Put your feet into all four corners. Encourage your spine to grow tall, with your chest and chin lifted gently. Allow your arms to hang down by your sides, palms forward. After this sequence, take a deep breath with your belly relaxed and tune in to the energy that is flowing through you. Close your eyes and set an intention by selecting a word or phrase that supports how you want to move through the rest of your day to help you maintain a high vibration!