Karen demonstrates Revolved Goddess Pose—photo by Fred Padilla.
By Karen Watson Reeves
As the new year begins, I think it is pretty common to spend some time reflecting on the past (looking over our shoulders) as well as anticipating what the new year might hold for us. And that can be helpful and productive, but one of my favorite benefits of yoga is keeping me grounded in the present.
Many of the poses require so much concentration, thinking about what one is doing with which body part, and working towards good alignment, balance, strength, and everything else that’s going on in the body. Revolved Goddess Pose is a standing posture that combines lower body strengthening with the abdominal stimulation of a twist, which helps open and release tension in the upper body. It requires strength and flexibility to keep the body stable while the torso twists, so it’s difficult to be anywhere but in the present.
Some of the physical benefits include strengthening legs, hips, glutes, core, arms, shoulders, and back muscles. Wow! That’s a lot of muscles! Flexibility and mobility are increased, and balance and stability are enhanced. This posture is great for people who sit for prolonged periods of time, helping to ease stiffness.
And like most poses, it can be modified. Props like a block or a chair can be used. And this posture helps prepare the practitioner for advanced poses such as more complex twists and binds. Spinal twists just make my body feel so good! After a long drive, a lot of sitting or even standing, or just getting up out of bed in the morning, putting the body in a spinal twist can alleviate tightness and tension.
In these early days of January, go ahead and look back, scan the previous year. Learn from it, and dedicate the new year to growing even more! Body, mind, and spirit.
(Here’s a little teaser: as the months of 2026 progress, there will be opportunities for free classes. Read this column, you might be a winner!)
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. Please find more information about her studio and her schedule of classes at www.theyogaplacehs.com.
{Karen’s yoga poses are archived on our website at thespringsmagazine.com/category/health-wellness/yoga/.}
