By Karen Reeves Watson
Winter! For those who flourish in the light and warmth of nature, January had its share of dark, dismal, damp, dreary days, and what better counter solution than to dance… dance it out!
In the myth of the pose, the practitioner is dancing through old patterns and breaking free from habits we get stuck in, enabling us to better embrace change.
In the yoga world, Dancer Pose has several benefits to help bring in the light and warmth. Sometimes called King Dancer Pose, it can be categorized as a back bend. And back bends, besides helping to counter all the forward bending and poor posture that we experience, can help open the chest, thus being energizing and warming. Further energetic benefits include opening the sacral (sensuality), solar plexus (personal power), and heart (compassion) chakras.
Other health benefits that result from practicing this pose include strengthening and stretching the ankles, legs, thighs, chest, abdomen, groin, and hips; greater flexibility in the spine, shoulders, and hamstrings; better balance; and an increased sense of invigoration since it activates the entire body!
As in many yoga poses, there are several modifications, options, skill/flexibility levels. I was fortunate to find a sunny January day (even though it was very chilly) for a photo session in beautiful Hot Springs, alongside an amazing piece of artwork. The “model” in the sculpture is dancing with both feet on the ground, so she’s not balancing, but she’s still opening to the light and warmth. I am photographed in a couple of Dancer Pose options.
I didn’t send the “bloopers”, because as you dance in a balance pose, you will fall out of it. Think of the wobbling and unsteadiness as part of the dance and just keep dancing. Learn to flow with the pose and let that be a lesson in finding calmness and serenity in life’s challenges.
Karen Watson Reeves was born and raised in Mount Holly and has called Hot Springs home since 2006. She became a registered yoga teacher in 2011 and has travelled Arkansas teaching her passion. She owns The Yoga Place, is on the Hot Springs YMCA teaching staff, is an adjunct instructor at National Park College, as well as teaching in several other fabulous venues. When not on the mat, Karen enjoys the beautiful outdoors of the National Park, especially from her bicycle.
