Tag: sahasrara

Your Brain on Yoga

On By Kim LuyckxIn Yoga PracticeLeave a comment

adorando el solWe are blessed with brains that are both practical and mysterious. Although science has thoroughly studied this amazing organ, there are numerous discoveries yet to be uncovered. No wonder it is so well protected and sits up so high!

These last few weeks I have been exploring what I will call mind yoga. The concept of which is cultivated through energy alignment, pranayama and meditation.

In order to truly be aligned, energy should be generated at all levels of the chakric system – from the muladhara or root chakra all the way up to the sahasrara or crown chakra.

In yoga, there are several postures to facilitate and balance these energy centers. Since I have covered most of them in past posts, today I will focus on the uppermost level of the chakric chain.

Continue reading “Your Brain on Yoga” →

YOLY Challenge #24: Your Crowning Achievement!

On By Kim LuyckxIn YOLY Challenge of the WeekLeave a comment

We made it!  We have arrived at the summit – the uppermost chakra.sunset-1791832__180 This marks the end of a long journey that started on week 14 – the site where we laid down our roots for the climb to the top.

This shining star located at the apex is called the crown chakra. In sanskrit, it is known as sahasrara and translates as the “thousand-petaled lotus.” The number 1000 is the symbol for boundless, infinite and tremendous.

The yoga postures associated with the sahasrara or crown chakra are restorative and meditative in nature.  They are the ones that enable you to tune into your inner mind – that divine spirit that is within you and create an infinite connection to the cosmic world.

To achieve this contemplative state, it is helpful to balance your chakra wheels from root to crown so that the energy can appropriately ascend.

Try this 30 minute sequence daily and be sure to leave plenty of time for the “prize” at the finish:

Muladhara (Root) Chakra: Easy Cross Leg Pose

Svadhisthana (Sacral) Chakra:  Cat-Cow to Child’s Pose

Manipura (Solar Plexus) Chakra: Downward Dog to Plank

Anahata (Heart) Chakra:  Sphinx

Vishuddha (Throat) Chakra: Bridge

Ajna (Third-Eye) Chakra: Seated Staff Pose to Supported Forward Bend

Sahasrara (Crown) Chakra: imagesModified Rabbit Pose – from child’s pose, lift your hips and roll onto the top of your head supporting your weight with your hands.

Savasana (well supported with props)

Spend about 1-3 minutes in each “chakra pose” and give yourself at least 10 minutes for Savasana.