Bird of Paradise/Svarga Dvijasana & Eka Koudiyasana 2

Yoga is not just a physical exercise, but a spiritual journey that can transform us from the inside out. It’s about being true to ourselves, finding inner strength, and standing up for our dreams. In this class, we will explore the transformative power of the Bird of Paradise Pose, or Svarga Dvijasana, and Eka Koudiyasana 2, as we cultivate the balance between effort and grace.

We will begin the practice with a low squat, or Malasana, which is a grounding pose that helps us connect with the earth and open our hips. From here, we will add a twist, then a bind into the Malasana to deepen the pose and further stretch our hips and spine.

Next, we will move into a Ladder Flow from Malasana, starting with the right leg back into Lizard Lunge, inhaling into Cow pose, exhaling into Cat pose. From here, we will move into Flip Dog, also known as Wild Thing or Camatkarasana, which is an invigorating backbend that opens our heart and chest.

We will then transition into Side Plank, or Vasisthasana, which strengthens our arms and core, and helps us develop balance and stability. From Side Plank, we will lunge forward slowly, cartwheel to Warrior 2, or Virabhadrasana 2, and then move into Reverse Warrior, or Viparita Virabhadrasana, which is a deep stretch for our side body and legs.

Next, we will move into Side Angle pose with a bind, or Utthita Parsvakonasana, which further stretches our hips and spine, and helps us cultivate balance and stability. From here, we will step forward while keeping the bind, rise up, and move into Bird of Paradise pose.

Bird of Paradise, or Svarga Dvijasana, is a challenging pose that requires strength, flexibility, and balance. In this pose, we lift one leg up and wrap the other leg around the lifted leg, while also extending our arms out in a bind. This pose helps us develop strength and flexibility in our legs, hips, and shoulders, and also requires balance and focus.

After holding Bird of Paradise for a few breaths, we will come down and step back into Side Angle pose, releasing the bind. From here, we will move back into Warrior 2 and then transition into Surfer Lunge, or Skandasana, toward the back of the mat, adding a bind to deepen the pose and stretch our hips.

Next, we will move into Half Moon pose, or Ardha Chandrasana, toward the front of the mat, which is a challenging balance pose that requires strength and focus. From Half Moon, we will move back into Warrior 2, cartwheel the arms down, and bring the leg back and up into 1 leg Downward Dog.

In 1 leg Downward Dog, we will bend the back knee and open the hips, preparing us for Eka Koudiyasana 2. Eka Koudiyasana 2, also known as Flying Split, is a challenging arm balance that requires strength, balance, and focus. In this pose, we bring the knee forward outside of the shoulder and shift the weight forward into the arms, lifting the back leg off the ground.  Finally, we will move into a Vinyasa and jump forward into a low squat, or Malasana, to complete the practice.

Once you have completed the flow sequence, you come into the Bird of Paradise pose by stepping forward and rising up while keeping a bind, which is a term used in yoga to describe the action of holding onto a body part or a prop to deepen a pose or increase stability. In the Bird of Paradise pose, you balance on one leg while extending the other leg out to the side and wrapping one arm around the back to hold onto the foot. The pose requires a lot of core strength, as well as flexibility in the hips, hamstrings, and shoulders.

There are many benefits to practicing the Bird of Paradise pose, including:

1. Increased strength and flexibility: The Bird of Paradise pose requires a lot of strength and flexibility in the legs, hips, and shoulders, so practicing the pose regularly can help you develop these areas of your body.
2. Improved balance and coordination: Balancing on one leg in the Bird of Paradise pose can help improve your balance and coordination, which can be beneficial for other areas of your life, such as sports, dance, and daily activities.
3. Reduced stress and anxiety: Practicing the Bird of Paradise pose, like any yoga pose, can help reduce stress and anxiety by promoting relaxation and mindfulness.
4. Increased energy and vitality: The Bird of Paradise pose can help stimulate the nervous system and increase blood flow to the body, which can help boost energy levels and promote overall vitality.
5. Improved self-confidence: Practicing the Bird of Paradise pose, like any challenging yoga pose, can help build self-confidence and self-esteem by showing you that you are capable of achieving difficult things with practice and determination.

In conclusion, the Bird of Paradise pose is a beautiful and challenging yoga posture that requires a lot of strength, flexibility, and balance. By practicing the pose regularly, you can enjoy many physical, mental, and emotional benefits, and feel more confident and empowered in your yoga practice and in your life.

A perfect act & It’s impossible to make a wrong decision

No action is undesirable as long as it produces a beneficial result to all concerned, including you. You may call that a perfect act. The definition of a perfect act is one that neither hurts you, nor hurts anyone else. At the same time, it should bring some benefit to somebody. Direct the mind, educate it; that is Yoga. The very purpose of all your spiritual practice is to lean how to direct your thoughts and actions for a beneficial purpose. If you make a wrong decision, grow from your mistakes and you wont lose anything. Become a friend; loving and caring, sharing and helping. The secret is to look for opportunities to help others, look for ways to be nice to them, have patience and understanding. Allow others to learn in their own time. Have compassion and understanding. We are all at the same level. Don’t hesitate to give more chances to people.

Jai Ma Durga, Jaya Jaya Ma

jai/jaya: Victory to! Celebration of. An emphatic “Hooray God!”
mā/mātā: Mother.
durgā: Supreme Goddess, Devi, Divine Mother, Shakti… Durga’s name means “the invincible.”

“…The Shaktas worship the Supreme as the goddess Durga. The term shakta derives from shakti, the Sanskrit word for power or energy. Durga is thus identified as the supreme divine power. She strikes a powerful pose in her typical manifestation, mounted upon a lion, her numerous arms wielding a fearsome array of weapons. Appearing as a beautiful woman, she attracts the demons toward her only to annihilate them.”  ~ Krishna Dharma