I'm an MFA, Bliss Catalyst, and Creator of A Blythe Coach: helping multi passionate creatives dance through their difficulties and take leaps of faith. Writing and sharing about mindful movement, dance education, coaching and creativity is my jam. Subscribe and join delighted readers every week!
Congratulations on attaining Day 5 of the Yogalicious ReTREAT, whether you're participating in real time, completing the sequence in 5 days or more!
Do you ever feel closed-off, separate, collapsed, or jus not quite yourself? Although turning inward (such as we did physically in the forward folding practices, as well as metaphorically) has its place, we want to balance that action with opening up and reaching out.
Today we’re going to float our hearts open, leaning back to receive all the goodness in our lives.
We’ll be stretching through the back and shoulders in standing or seated, prone, and supine shapes and finding our favorite backbending flavors. We’ll also practice a slightly prolonged and deeply relaxing 5:5 breathing pattern.
With this practice our virtual yoga reTREAT is complete! I hope you have relished your daily escape and know that you can always come back to the practices when you need them.
_Time Stamps_
01:11 Start in a well-grounded seat or stance, close or softly focus your eyes, bring attention to breath, intuitive movement
02:59 Warmup, 5:5 Ratio Breathing
05:10 Standing Yoga Mudra/Back Bend
06:50 Bhujangasana/Cobra or Urdhva Mukha Svanasana/Upward-facing Dog/Sphynx
13:36 Sphynx with music: “Nebular Focus” by Dan Henig
16:08 Setu Bandhasana or Setu Bandha Sarvangasana/Bridge or Shoulder Bridge
20:35 Supported Bridge with music: “Auckland” by VYEN
23:21 Reclining Heart-Opener or other resting pose (Savasana, Constructive Rest, Legs-Up-the-Wall, Butterfly…tell me what your favorites are and what shapes you like to use for particular situations)
24:15 Heart-opening or resting shape with music: “Wander” by Emmit Fenn
28:30 Acknowledgement & Lovingkindness
Ways to keep savoring your retreat experience:
Questions for Reflection:
May these nurturing habits of mindful movement and self-care become a permanently beneficial part of your daily ritual.
I am so happy to have you here and to support you in living an extraordinary life!
Love, Blythe
Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
Creator of A Blythe Coach: dance through your difficulties
and take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life
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I'm an MFA, Bliss Catalyst, and Creator of A Blythe Coach: helping multi passionate creatives dance through their difficulties and take leaps of faith. Writing and sharing about mindful movement, dance education, coaching and creativity is my jam. Subscribe and join delighted readers every week!
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