By Neha Patel┃Posted: January 18, 2018
Ring in the New Year with a warm smile! After the rigors of holiday shopping and celebrations, it’s time to fight the winter mood swings and post-holiday blues. Often, instead of carrying the holiday cheer through the New Year, we find ourselves feeling exhausted or even depressed during the winter months at the beginning of the year. This is because our busy schedules at this time of year fall out of sync with nature's cycles. During winter, when we see less of the sun, we naturally feel the need to stay put, cozy and bundled, needing extra motivation to bring our energy levels up to complete our projects. This is the time to engage in activities that will help circulate more ‘Prana’ (energy) in our system.
When winter is at its peak, instead of gathering logs for a fire to fight the cold, yogis find solace in practicing ‘Agnisara’ (Breath of Fire) and heating poses (Hatha Yoga) to stay warm and restore the natural balance and energy flow in the body.
Agnisara
Agni means fire and sara means essence. The fire element in our body is responsible for digestion and transformation. The practice of Agnisara not only regulates our physical health but also promotes vitality in our instinctive life and stability in our emotional health.
Poses that generate heat in the body
It is best to hold these poses for at least 30 seconds or repeat 4-5 times if practicing for a shorter duration to get the desired effect
- Lion Pose
- Downward Facing Dog Pose
- Warrior I and II Poses
- Cobra Pose
- Bow Pose
- Side Plank Pose
- Extended Side Angle Pose
- Spinal twist or Nataraj Pose
These radiant poses allow us to break free from the cycle of lethargy and help us stay enthused and focused on our goals, while attaining optimum physical and spiritual well-being.
Neha Patel, an Art of Living faculty since 1999, teaches self-development through yoga and meditation. With a 200-hour certification, she has a degree in accounting and owns a multi-unit franchise.
