YOGA TODAY
BY CLAUDIA NEUMAN Loss of health and mobility begins with such impediments as stiff ankles, sore shoulder joints, tension around the eyes and face, a rigid spinal column, and tight- ness in the wrists and finger joints. In addition, soreness in the lower back and rigidity in the hip joints are extraordinari- ly common ailments. It is surprising how effectively these problems can be addressed with repetitions of (the) relatively simple movements (found here). ~ Rolf Sovik, PsyD, Himalayan In- stitute, commenting on Exercises for Joints & Glands by Swami Rama Yoga in the Age of Social Distance: A Practice for Un-Hugged Arms I believe we are suffering the con- sequences of our inability to move about our lives with the freedom and ease we nor- mally do. I’ve hadmany reports about shoulder, arm and wrist issues. I myself had a bout of “frozen shoul- der” from June all the way until October. In addi- tion, those who have received
finding our expres- sion, it usually initi- ates from the upper body. The arms are connected to the heart; metaphori- cally, the heart uses the arms to tell its story. The arms are the body parts we reach out with, that we are drawn in with, and what we use to hug and hold onto those we love. I’d venture to say one of the most dif- ficult parts of this pandemic is not be- ing able to do any of the abovemen- tioned, especially the hugging. In the age of social distancing,
to hug one another? Frankly, yes. Furthermore, it is a fact we are glued to a screen and a keyboard these days. In the most practical sense, there is nothing more draining and damag- ing than to stare at a computer screen and type for hours on end, day after day. From an ergonomic standpoint, even the best of set ups can’t negate the strain to the head, neck, eyes, arms, wrists and fingers. The damaging blue light from the screen is also quite harm- ful to our nervous system and quality of sleep. Add these factors to our cur- rent isolation and general lack of hug- ging and it follows that folks would be compromised right now, and suffering from repetitive stress symptoms in the upper body. I’ve learned we have to do more to take care of ourselves, and others, in this age of social distancing. Those of us who are heeding this call are adapt- ing, perhaps even thriving. A Yoga Practice For Energetic Strength In response to all this upper body “stuff” I have had and seen in my stu- dents, I put together a brief series of movements that draws from exercises in The Joints and Glands work set forth
I wonder if we will look back on this time of living through this pandemic as the Age of Social Distancing? Even though we are able to “see” one anoth- er through our masks and screens, we can’t really feel the contact or the con- nection with one another like we used to. I can’t help but wonder what all this is doing to us physically, emotionally and spiritually. Distress in a Socially Distant Age As a Yoga instructor who now teach- es students only on a Zoom platform, I’ve noticed some distressing trends.
the vaccine have reported to me of their arm sore- ness, fatigue and a general need to “recover” from
Rotations with Extended Arms: Parts A & B
hugging is put on hold. We can only imagine, or try to remember, the way it feels. The arms, the neck, the heart and the throat are deprived from the ener- getic and emotional sense of healing and positivity that hugging brings. Am I saying that the aforementioned upper body issues are related to our inability
the vaccine, especially after receiving the second dose. I’ve always thought that one’s arms are like one’s wings—these are the ap- pendages we express with. When we can enjoy the fullest expression of our lives, energetically, we are flying. Even though we all have a unique way of
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