Led by the Heart | by Paige Faure
mat - and we have ALL completed quite the balancing act over these last two
When a yoga teacher announces mid
years, and maybe needed to see things
class that you’ll now be moving into the
from another point of view at one time or
pose “wild thing”, it can sound a little
another.
intense. When we hear the word “WILD”,
despite its name, can prepare you for a
we imagine a tigress, or a late-night of
deeper peace, I believe, because it allows
partying, or kids running like banshees up
you let go a bit, reach for places (and
and down the hallways of your home.
muscles) you may not use in your day to
And if you practice yoga regularly, you
day life, and create space for imagination
may feel that way when you achieve it for the first time or have a particularly robust flow that day. But for me, the benefits
and
posture,
enlightenment
called
of
the
Camatkarasana
in
Sanskrit, are more subtle, more layered. Often called “flip dog” (dog being the downward
facing
kind),
wild
thing
is
challenging for beginners and seasoned yogis
alike
stability
because
and
knowledge
all
it
mobility, at
once.
requires trust It
uses
joint and the
muscles all along the back side of your body,
upper
arm
strength
and
hip
When
Whether
you
too. Learning how to bring your mind to your body and allowing it to open up in new ways will surely bring greater energy to your days, as long as it is done with some grace
focus, for
Over and over again, I feel the trust fall that wild thing is in my life off of the
a
lot
yourself
of as
whatever your WILD is.
forgiveness, you
grow
and into
n i g h t
wild
successful.
once,
intimidating, but there is a lesson in that
well. The posture can feel vulnerable
planned it to be good, beautiful and
thing
moving your body in new ways can feel
region, but oftentimes, emotionally as
have to go one way or exactly as we
wild
notice how you feel before or after -
stretches the space along your pectoral
reminder that everything in life does not
attempt
into it everyday with ease, take care and
- physically, because it literally
perspective can be quite freeing - a
asana,
spend years trying for it, or pop right up
comes from having an open heart space
down. If you will allow it, the change in
this
and compassion.
flexibility, but the real gift of wild thing
because it literally turns the world upside
practiced,
need more yoga in your life? check out some of our favs:
theyogaground.com
revel-yoga.com
bakerstreetyoga.com
threebirdsyogastudio.com