Ahhhhh, February. The month of love. Where little kids make homemade cards decked out with glitter and hearts to pass out to all of their friends and crushes. Where heart-shaped candies are found everywhere exclaiming “be mine” or “true love”. Where single people avoid all restaurants because the risk of gagging over googly eyes, hand-holding or even the “surprise engagement” popping up at the table next to them is just not helpful. Where some couples agonize over where to go or what grand romantic gesture will capture the heart of their loved one on February 14th. And of course, the time when cheesy love ballads are playing, yoga teachers are talking about all the heart openers and you are just trying to breathe through it all. So in the spirit of Love Ballads and Heart Openers, here is not only a cheesy playlist, but some extra special heart openers from Container Collective Yoga Studio in Lakewood, Colorado to YOU:
"Wild Thing, you make my heart sing, You make EVERYTHING Groovy. Wild Thing, I think I love you." Talk about a JUICY heart-opener that not only evokes a sense of freedom, levity and even a touch of ecstasy. I don't know about you, but every time I enter into this heart opener, I find my chest opening, my head dropping and a lightness enter into my soul. It not only provides the heat to encourage our hearts and chest to open, but gives us the courage to be vulnerable and to release. A strong base is certainly the key to lifting your heart toward the sky, pulling your shoulder blades onto your back and providing freedom in your expression and emotion.
"You're the meaning in my life, you're the inspiration. You bring feeling to my life." Of all poses that we could call absolutely stunning, this heart opener certainly takes beauty to another level. Dancer works on strengthening your back, legs, and ankles. Not only does this open your chest and shoulders, it stretches your thighs, groin and abdomen. Want to work on improving your balance and focus? Dance your way into this pose with our Baptiste Power Yoga Community!
"Once more, you open the door and you're here in my heart and my heart will go on and on." Talk about feeling like you are pulling your heart open over and over again (how many up dogs do we really do each class?? No, really, how many, because it is a lot!) And that is the beauty of it, we open our hearts more times than we know during a 60 min Container Collective Yoga class in this pose. The key to this gem of a pose is to breathe. By entering up dog on an inhalation your heart lifts, collar bones spread and energy flows right to the source of it all. Bringing your shoulder blades down on your back automatically spreads your chest wide to receive all of the breath and energy needed to guide you through a power yoga class.
"I can see it in your eyes, I can see it on your smile, you're all I've ever wanted my arms are open wide." Fish pose...ahhh wait, supported Fish pose (even better). Through rooting down and lifting up Fish Pose makes you feel energized, free, in full surrender and open to new possibilities. Not only does it strengthen your upper back muscles and the back of your neck, but allows for strengthening of your upper back muscles which can improve the flexibility in your spine and your posture. All of that hunching over while working on your computer or collapsing into your phone can be reversed in this heart lifting and mood lightening pose. Happy February Collective Community
XOXO, Courtney Boland (Social Media Yogi here at CCYOGA)
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