Colours of Yoga

BY TASHA BODNARCHUK

The strength & softness of PINK

Sitting down to write this article and I am looking at magenta roses in a vase on my kitchen table. What does the colour pink bring to my mind? The bright petals create feelings of calm, sweet, soft, sensual, warm, openness, compassion, inner knowing, intuition, feminine energy, self-love and unconditional love. Yoga is self-love. Whether you practice daily, take moments to stretch, have deep belly breaths when you remember to or sit in stillness to allow your body and mind to rest. All of these support your physical, emotional and spiritual health. When I think of the colour pink connected to my practice I think of roses. The softness of the petals, the strength and protection provided by the thorns and the way roses open and bloom, fully showing up as they are and having others see them and appreciate their beauty. Pink represents the duality within in us, we have the ability to be strong and vulnerable simultaneously.

We know that our shoulders can carry “the weight of the world” and we can physically feel the stress accumulate in our upper back, shoulders and neck from busyness, worry and a lifestyle that has us hunched over at computers and on our phones. We tend to forget what gets held and even trapped in our hips. One of my yoga teachers once described our hips as the “junk drawers of our bodies” and that our hips are where “we place all the emotions, thoughts and feelings that we aren’t really sure what to do with.” That resonated with me. I thought about what I might be holding onto that is weighing me down. The hips have become a storage space and the power of opening, releasing them, on a physical level has many benefits that create healing for the whole – mind, body, and soul.

There are a few poses that I have in every yoga class I teach, Butterfly pose (Badhakonasona) and Happy Baby pose (Ananda Balasana). I believe I connect to these because they have helped me to be more open and vulnerable, both physically and emotionally. When we open our hips, which you do in both of these poses, the physically opening allows for an emotional expansion and for some an additional release, which can be felt more internally and/or outward with crying.

Butterfly pose (Badhakonasona) can be done sitting or lying down. We do have to do be conscious of our knees in this pose, so make sure that you are modifying and/or using props where necessary. You can use pillows or bolsters under your knees for added support and more of a restorative opening posture that you may be able to relax into and stay in longer. For sitting in Butterfly pose, have a firm and straight spine, sit down on your yoga mat or have a comfortable place to sit on a firm surface. Bring the soles of both your feet together by bending your knees and also bring them closer towards the pelvis. Hold both your feet tightly with your hands (you may also place your hands below the feet for support and if possible, gently bring the heels closer to your body). Now, take a deep breath in. Slowly, breathing out and press the thighs and knees down towards the floor. Continue with the gentle effort to keep pressing them downwards. With your breath returning to a normal rhythm, you have the option to start flapping both the legs up and down like the wings of a butterfly. Keep breathing normally throughout the process. You can continue to move the legs or you can relax in this pose or push deeper into it, by pressing into the thighs or knees, pushing them closer to the floor. You may be able to bring your torso closer to the floor as well. When ready, slowly sit upright and release your legs and feet in front of you to stretch them out. (*When practicing Butterfly on your back you might be able to relax into the opening of your hips a bit more deeply compared to sitting. Again, props – pillows, bolsters can aid with this).

Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana) is a pose babies and younger children naturally move into when on their backs and this allows us to ground, relax, open our hips and connect to our ‘inner child’. It is practiced while lying flat on the floor or mat, while on your back (please do not practice this pose if you are pregnant, specifically in the first trimester). You want to make sure that your shoulders and head stay on the mat as well, this is to avoid head and neck strain. Then bend your knees toward your chest at a 90-degree angle and face ace the soles of your feet up toward the ceiling. Reaching forward, grab and hold the inside or outside of your feet (*if you cannot reach your feet, bend your knees at a level that feels comfortable and place your hands anywhere on your legs for support). Spread your knees apart, shifting them toward your armpits. If you are holding your feet, flex your heels into your hands and if it feels good, you can gently rock from side-to-side (like a happy baby). Remain in this position for several breaths, inhaling and exhaling deeply.

These are two examples of how we can open up to ourselves through hip opening. This is a practice of self-love. When we open up in this way, physically and emotionally, we are better equipped to support others and have a healthy reciprocal relationship, the beautiful flow of giving and receiving. When we are compassionate towards ourselves we can show up in the world and express that same compassion for others. Remember that each time you practice you are creating more space and freedom in your body. Be gentle and easy on yourself. You are giving your physical vessel the gift of rest and relaxation. You are a breathing, beautiful being and connecting to the powerful mind body connection we can all tap into.

Sitting Butterfly pose (Badhakonasona)

Lying Butterfly pose (Badhakonasona)

Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana)