BestLifeYoga: First Chakra

Ganesha is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu religion. His images are found all over India and Nepal. Ganesha is known by many other attributes, Ganesha's elephant head makes him easy to identify. As I walking into a health food for lunch in a small of town of Harford close to Utica, New York.

I saw a beautiful lady walking into the same store. I recognized the image right away; I asked her about her tattoo was Ganesha, we exchanged a brief conversation. She happens to be a yoga teacher. She understands the meaning of Ganesha. I was so thrilled to run into her, more especially reminding me of Ganesha and the story from my teacher, Shanthi

From my studies and being trained in India with my Kundalini background, Ganesha resides in the first Chakra called Muladhara (mūlādhāra). Mula means "original, main"; adhara means "base, foundation". The mantra for the first charka is LAM. There are several asanas that helps to open the first chakra. The posture I have chosen is Bridge, in Sanskirt (Setu Bandhasana). It strengthens the abdomen and thighs while you practice the posture.

Beth
When the first chakra is imbalance, it means our foundation is not balance Obesity is one of the many symptoms. I can write a whole book with the imbalances of first chakra. Through the first chakra, we work to understand and heal our bodies. The challenge to us is to accept, feel, validate, and love yourself.

Eating is a first chakra activity. Joy, happiness, love, compassion, content are the emotions of first chakra. When we eat, we are nourished and our physical body is supported. Eating grounds us. Proteins are first chakra food.

A balance first chakra opens us to our power and stability and allows us to grow. We are grounded. First Chakra brings us rest, solidity and stillness.

How to get in Bridge posture:

1. Lay on your back with your arms at your sides, your palms facing downward. Bend your knees bring the soles of your feet close to your buttocks.

2. Press down on the soles of your feet. (Think of the root foundation of the body). You have a lot of strength there. Squeeze your buttocks and press your pubic bone upward, allow the pressing to lift your hips upward towards the heaven.

3. Integrate your three part yoga breath to the first chakra by channeling to the corresponding position in the body.

4. During all the lifting and lowering, you are contracting and squeezing the buttocks until it is resting on the floor.

5. Rise up into the full posture several times and stay up. Continue to squeeze the buttocks, chest expanded (opening the heart chakra) and find breathe is steady.

6. Bring your arms under and interlace your hands behind you to find openness in the shoulder.

7. When you are ready to release from the posture, release your hands and allow your vertebrae to roll down with control.

Benefits of this posture

• Stretches the chest, neck, and spine

• Calms the brain and helps alleviate stress and mild depression

• Stimulates abdominal organs, lungs, and thyroid

• Rejuvenates tired legs

• Improves digestion

• Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause

• Relieves menstrual discomfort when done supported

• Reduces anxiety, fatigue, backache, headache, and insomnia

• Therapeutic for asthma, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and sinusitis

Advanced Student

• Insert block in between the tight so that the knees are far away from each other.

• Release the block and go into another posture Wheel Posture

The interpretation of Ganesha symbolism: