Krounchasana is heron pose. At the time of this post, its mid-February. It is a good time to look again at the goals we may have set for ourselves at the beginning of the year, and re-evaluate, recover, renew, or even reject. It takes stepping back and allowing a wide view of what we really want, being open to new discoveries while we are working on the goal and a course correction when needed. That’s the message in the graceful, expansive flight of the heron.
blue heron photo from fox haven jounal
Posture for the class outline: spinning.
When we first start out with a goal, there is lots of action going on and sometimes this throws our stable world spinning. If the changes are small or if progress is seen, then the new schedule is able to be maintained and the spinning slows and slows and a new vibrational comfort level is reached.
Posture: reclined supported backbend.
Now its time to examine the goal, examine the changes from the perspective of the heart center. Is what we want for our highest and best good? Do we love what we have chosen for our goal? Is is fulfilling our own needs, or just expectations of others.
An excerpt from a book by Mark Nepo. This story is about a bicycle race.
On the day of the race, he waited with the others and felt that life was waiting in the hills. He couldn’t quite say why, but a blessing was about to happen. As the gun went off, he could hear the rush of all the racers breathing—like young horses in the morning…..
He had trained for months, up and down the sloping hills, cutting off seconds by wearing less and leaning into curves. His legs were shanks of muscle. He often said, “It’s the closest thing to flying I know.”
On the second hill, the line thinned, and he was near the front. They were slipping through the land like arcs of light riding through the veins of the world. By now, he was in the lead. As he swept toward the wetlands, he was gaining time when a great blue heron took off right in front of him, its massive, timeless wings opening just in front of his handlebars.
Its shadow covered him and seemed to open something he’d been chasing. The others were pumping closer, but he just stopped and stood there, straddling his bike, staring at what the great blue had opened by cutting through the sky.
In years to come, others would ask, “What cost you the race?” Wherever he was, he’d always look south, and once in a while, he’d say, “I didn’t lose the race—I left it.”
This story is a good illustration of what it means to be unattached to the outcome. Setting a goal or following a certain path helps us stay focused, motivated and moving forward, like training for a bike race. But staying connected to our heartcenter and desire for our highest and best good will help us be open to something greater that might occur along the way.
Posture: curl ups.
Whether leaving the race, staying in the race, recommitting to a goal or rejecting the goal because it no longer serves us, we must use our courage and will power.
Postures: cloud salute, sun salutes, Warrior 1, lunge, jet airplane, flying chair, locust, janu sirsasana. To continue to prepare for heron pose these poses will warm the body and provide opportunity to practice the attitude of freedom, flying, graceful expansion.
Posture: heron
The heron pose is somewhat challenging but like all poses can be modified. As we approach each yoga class or asana, enjoy each moment and each breath rather than seeking for the finished product or the finish line. The props in the pix are wonderful. It makes the pose accessible and comfortable.
Pix from here: heron, bike, krounchasana
