What is Downward-Facing Pigeon Pose?

Downward-facing pigeon pose, or adho mukha kapotasana in Sanskrit, is a restful version of the upright pigeon pose. The torso folds over the front leg with the arms stretched forward in this deep hip opener.

Instructions

Begin in pigeon pose with the right leg extended back.Exhale and lower the torso down, walking the hands forward.Rest the forehead on the floor and press the palms together in prayer.Breathe while holding the pose.Inhale and release. Change sides.

“You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.”

Here are five powerful steps to consider that will allow you to create the space to understand who you truly are and what you want from life to claim your ultimate power.

If you’re feeling stuck, create a positive mantra to counter the painful thoughts. The more you rinse and repeat the power of where you want to go, your energy will shift away from your negative situation. Invest in doing your “own work.” This means understanding what patterns you need to break to get to the next level in life. You will find when you invest in working on you and understand your trigger points you will feel a sense of freedom to walk away from what no longer serves you by creating space for new and exciting opportunities to find you. Be gentle with yourself. Don’t expect an overnight miracle to happen because it won’t find you until you’re ready. If you’re in a situation that is causing you pain, accept that the other person may not apologize. That’s OK. Remember that’s their story, not yours. You cannot “fix” someone, but you can fix yourself. Forgive the experience and walk away to embrace other opportunities. You don’t need to sizzle in a shit pit for one more moment of life. Engage in self-care. A happy heart is a magnet for miracles. If you want to attract miracles make the time to receive them. Take time out in nature, go for a run, book a massage, and switch your phone off. The secret whispers of life will find you and you will be grateful you took the time to stop and listen to thrive.

To claim your power means creating the time to understand who you are and what you want to do in this lifetime. From there all it takes is a series of powerful steps and you will never look back, only forward as you live life on your own terms attracting the right people and opportunities into your life and career.

Lion’s Breath is an energizing yoga breathing practice that may help relieve tension in your jaw and facial muscles.

It’s also known in yoga as Lion’s Pose or Simhasana in Sanskrit.

To do this:

Come into a comfortable seated position. You can sit back on your heels or cross your legs.Press your palms against your knees with your fingers spread wide.Inhale deeply through your nose and open your eyes wide.At the same time, open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue, bringing the tip down toward your chin.Contract the muscles at the front of your throat as you exhale out through your mouth by making a long “haaa” sound.You can turn your gaze to look at the space between your eyebrows or the tip of your nose.Do this breath 2 to 3 times.

“In the long run, the sharpest weapon of all is a kind and gentle spirit.”

Whether you like it or not, the people in our lives reflect the darker aspects of ourselves back to us, and we project our shadow onto other people by passing judgment and criticism their way.

“The shadow is prone to psychological projection, in which a perceived personal inferiority is recognized as a perceived moral deficiency in someone else.”

Wikipedia

Everything you find annoying in others, that you judge and reject from yourself points to shadow issues.

What people are in your environment? What do you dislike or even hate about them?

But also: What fascinates you about them?

Who are people on social media that you dislike or judge?

Which celebrities or individuals do you admire and hold in high regard? And why?

Also, whenever we unconsciously repeat a behavior it is a clue for a shadow part that has taken control. Can you spot patterns in your life? Any pattern that repeats itself is your shadow calling out at you.

Here are more clues to help you recognize your shadow parts:

Lack of self-confidence and afraid to speak up

Blaming external circumstance

Weak boundaries

Fears around putting yourself and your creative work out into the world (fear of judgement, procrastination, self-sabotage…)

Not doing what you know you want and is good for you

Money and success issues (judging others who make a lot of $$ or are very outwardly successful)

Relationship issues and dramas (anxious or avoidant attachment styles)

Everything that scares you sinks deep into your shadow (sometimes it becomes a big inner monster). Which worries do you find yourself dealing with on a regular basis?

Perhaps you are jealous every time your partner mentions a coworker, even though there is no valid explanation for your feelings.

Maybe you judge a woman’s masculine appearance and don’t like women who wear short hair. This may be a sign that you reject the manly shadow side of yourself.

Maybe you have a friend who is sometimes late and it triggers you out of proportion.

Maybe you keep attracting unavailable partners or partners who cheat on you.

Maybe you feel frustrated in your relationships and you then turn passive-aggressive.

Maybe you feel stuck in areas of your life and no matter what you do, you don’t seem to make any progress.

Hello there shadow…

In essence, wherever you struggle in life a shadow hides.

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”

It’s normal to occasionally experience tension or anxiety. Everyone experiences it. But high stress can have an impact on your body, particularly your autonomic nervous system, the part of your body responsible for regulating your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion. You can control your nervous system and take proactive measures to improve your well-being, reduce stress, and lead a more balanced life.

How to regulate your nervous system:

1. Try a physiological sigh or other breathing exercises

A physiological sigh is a natural deep breathing pattern consisting of two quick inhales followed by a longer exhale. It can help calm the sympathetic system and activate the parasympathetic system.

2. Move your body

Exercise can be a great way to relieve stress and regulate the nervous system. Take a walk, practice yoga, or dance around your living room to your favorite song. Physical activity may help release tension and help your body feel more relaxed.

3. Use a weighted blanket

A weighted blanket may activate your parasympathetic nervous system through deep pressure touch. This form of therapy uses touch and feeling sensations as a calming technique. The combination of a weighted blanket and the activation of your parasympathetic nervous system can help to naturally relax your body and calm your mind.

4. Meditate to help calm your mind

Meditation can offer many benefits, including helping to reduce stress and restore the nervous system. Try sitting in a quiet space, closing your eyes, and focusing on your breath or a calming phrase. This may help center your thoughts and calm your mind.

5. Introduce mindfulness into your routine to help reduce stress

Focusing on mindfulness, or being present in the current moment can be therapeutic and help ground you and remind you to exist in the now. Try grounding yourself by feeling the earth beneath your feet, the texture of an object in your hand, or the feeling of wind against your skin.

6. Sing or laugh

Singing and laughing can both stimulate the vagus nerve, the main nerve in your parasympathetic nervous system, which can help you feel relaxed. Singing and laughing also increase your intake of oxygen, which can help with improving energy and mood.

7. Give yourself a massage or a hug

Touch can be a powerful tool for relaxation. Give yourself a healing massage by gently rubbing your temples, neck, arms, or feet, where stress can often be stored. Or try wrapping your arms around yourself for a hug, which can provide comfort and a sense of security.

8. Try tapping

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is an emerging practice that involves gently tapping specific points on your body while focusing on a calming phrase. Some common areas to engage in tapping include the outer palm, center of your forehead, below your nose, and below your lip, just to name a few.