The element of fire is about your determination, courage and passion.
To work with the fire element within, we can focus on the core/abdomen area. The following poses will work this area by turning the abs on and also twisting this area of the body.
These poses are appropriate for all levels and no props are required.
- Cat/Cow Boat Pose Variation – Sit with the feet flat on the floor and knees bent. Extend arms in front of you, sliding shoulders down the back. Twist over to the right, while rounding and contracting the belly like cat pose and lowering half way down. Inhale to come all the way up to center, trying to press the heart forward like in cow pose. Keep the feet grounded. Alternate sides. Do about 5 rounds.
2. Boat Pose – Come back to center. Rock back, keeping the back flat and arms extended forward. Keep the toes down or float the shins up parallel to the ground. Keep the chest lifted. Hold for a few breaths.
3. Butterfly Fold – Bring the soles of the feet together to touch. Drop the knees apart out to the sides. Inhale to lengthen up. Exhale as you walk the hands out and fold down. Hold here for at least a few deep breaths.
4. Deer Pose with Twist – Bring the left shin parallel to the front edge of your mat, with the left knee straight forward from the hip. Bring the right leg back, right shin parallel to long edge of mat and knee straight out from hip. Sit up tall. Bring right hand to outside of the left thigh. Draw the belly in, toning the navel in and up. Stay here or fold down on the diagonal (kind of like a modified/twisted pigeon pose).
5. Half Fish – Keep your right foot in as you lift up. Cross the right foot over the left thigh. Anchor the sit bones down. Reach your left arm up and hook the elbow over the right thigh. Open the chest to the right side in a twist, keeping length in the spine.
Repeat 4 and 5 on the other side.
6. Three-Legged Dog to Plank – Come to hands and knees, with hands a bit ahead of shoulders. Tuck toes and lift hips up and back in downward dog. Kick the right leg up and back. Keeping it straight and squared. As you exhale, tap the knee towards the nose, shifting shoulders over wrists and lowering hips in plank. Inhale to lift up and back. Do about 5 rounds.
7. Low Lunge – Step the foot between the palms. Lower the back knee down. Extend the arms up and over head. Feel the abs engage even here, while keeping the tail reaching down.
Repeat 6 and 7 on the other side.
These 7 poses come from a quick morning flow for energy on my YouTube channel.
Namaste,
Kassandra
