March...

Welcome to the Maitrī Yoga Chester March Newsletter.  Spring is almost upon us! So in preparation, lets clear out the emotional storehouse of the body: the hips.

March Intention: “I release….”

This month, our focus for practice is too release the hips. Our hips are the support system for the body, carrying the weight of the torso and upper body via the pelvis, and supported by the most powerful muscles; the glutes. Very often the hips can become tight due to our posture and the length of time we sit, or the way we carry weight through the upper body. Tightness in the hips can result in other areas of discomfort, such as tightness into the shoulders, pain in the knees or ankles, and pain in the lower back.
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The hips are also very closely related to emotional holding. The hips are our emotional storehouse, the place where we send those negative emotions that we don’t know what to do with. And when the area of the hips become tight, this can lead to our lower energy channels becoming blocked up. In releasing the hips, we are also working on releasing any deep-seated emotions that we have been storing there, opening up our lower energy channels ready for the awakening and creativity in spring. 

Mudra: Kali Mudra
A mudra representing overcoming difficulty; Kali is the fierce goddess representing transformation and ultimately purification. She is all about destroying dark in order to let in light. This mudra represents the sword of Kali.
 
HOW TO: Interlink the fingers, releasing just the index fingers, press them together. Cross left thumb over right.
 
BENEFITS: Kali Mudra helps releasing stress, letting go of anything that is no longer needed, and has a positive impact on the breath (naturally extending the exhale). 
 
The index fingers represent the air element. Bringing the two index fingers together is said to stimulate the air element and to blow away what the body and mind does not need.
Great to practice whenever you are feeling overloaded, before events that usually make you nervous, or anytime you feel the need to just let go. (Swami Saradananda, 2015), .                                                                                                          
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Mantra: Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha
This is the Ganesh Mantra; the remover of obstacles. This mantra awakens the energy of the root chakra, removing blockages and releasing the energy of transformation for new beginnings.
 
Namaste.