Bridge Pose in yoga is another grounding anasa that relates to your foundational root chakra. As part of the JuneOYourChakras Instagram yoga challenge, Brit Labonte, Chris Silbaugh, and Alek Parkinson are teaching fellow yogis about their chakras and how specific yoga poses relate to specific chakras.
Day 2 – Bridge Pose by Brit Labonte
The verb associated with the first chakra is “I am.” This chakra is linked to our connection and loyalty to our tribe, family and fellow earthlings. The base chakra also carries our ancestral memories, and most of us experience challenges or blockages within Muladhara.
War, famine, natural disasters, and any other events that threaten our basic survival are all recorded within the energies of the first chakra. These memories are imprinted in the subtle body, and are then passed down from generation to generation, creating unconscious generational patterns.
It is our work to take responsibility for our own lives and bring to light that which is unconscious by working to open up our first chakra.
Our Day 2 asana is Setu Bandha Sarvangasana, also commonly known as Bridge Pose.
1) Begin lying supine on the floor, bend your knees and set your feet on the floor, heels as close to the sitting bones as possible.
2) Exhale and press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor, push your tailbone upward toward the pubis, firming and lifting your bottom off the floor.
3) Keep your thighs and inner feet parallel
4) Clasp your hands below your pelvis and extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders.
5) Lift your buttocks until your thighs are about parallel to the floor.
6) Keep your knees directly over your heels, but push them forward and lengthen your tailbone toward the back of your knees.
7) Lifting your chin slightly away from the sternum, firm your shoulder blades against your back and press the top of your sternum toward your chin.
8) Firm your outer arms, broaden your shoulder blades and try to lift the space between them..
9) Stay here from 30 seconds to as long as it feels good.
10) Release with an exhalation, rolling the spine slowly down onto the floor.
Follow Brit_Labonte on Instagram and read our magazine daily for great information on the JuneOYourChakras Yoga Challenge.
As with any exercise program you must know yourself and understand your own health before attempting.
Photo Credits:
Feature Image: Christi Silbaugh @momwhatsfordinner on Instagram
Bridge Pose: Brit Labonte @Brit_Labonte on Instagram
