Karen Watson Reeves demonstrates Reverse Prayer Hands Pose. Photo by Fred Padilla.
By Karen Watson Reeves
Freedom. In July, Americans turn their thoughts to the word/the idea of freedom. The Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, indicating the desire to be free from the reign of Great Britain, and we celebrate this fun national holiday.
But the word freedom can elicit other feelings and emotions as diverse as the people who inhabit not just our country, but all people everywhere. It probably won’t surprise the reader that I suggest yoga as a key to discovering or rediscovering some of our personal freedoms.
- Yoga can free us from feeling constrained and restricted. We can be our best, boldest, and brightest selves on the yoga mat and out in the world.
- Yoga can free us from the need to try to control everything. The ways that we react to challenges and handle situations change.
- Yoga can free us from mental and emotional stress. The yoga postures and breath techniques teach us how to relax and self-regulate.
- Yoga can free us from physical tightness and pain. Trauma, fear, and sadness can show up in our tight hips. Stress can create tightness in the shoulders and neck.
The Reverse Prayer Hands pose featured this month is a heart-opening posture, which increases flexibility and strength in the wrists, arms, shoulders, and chest. It opens the shoulder blades, contracts and tones the biceps, and strengthens the pectoral muscles.
When the hands are brought together in a prayer or meditation position, the focus turns to gratitude. Be grateful for all the freedoms you experience, the obvious ones and the ones that tend to be taken for granted. Especially this Independence Day, bring your hands together in prayer (reverse or hands in front of the heart) and celebrate safely.
(One free class to be used during July is offered to the first person to correctly identify the location of this month’s pose.)
Karen Watson Reeves has called Hot Springs home since 2006. Owner of The Yoga Place, at 301 Whittington Avenue, she became a registered yoga/children’s yoga teacher in 2011. When not on the mat, Karen enjoys the beautiful outdoors of the National Park, especially from her bicycle. Find more information about her studio and her schedule of classes at www.theyogaplacehs.com.
