Eagle Pose
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Garuda is a fierce bird of prey, which was the vehicle of the Hindu god Vishnu, usually described as an eagle.
This is a asymmetrical standing balancing pose. Every style of western yoga approaches this in a slightly different way. This is the most compressed of the one-legged balancing postures, from the standpoint of both the shape and center of gravity — and the breathing. When you entwine the arms, it compresses the ribcage. Add in the hip flexion, combined with the mild spinal flexion and you can feel the compression of the lower abdomen.
I encourage you to experience yourself in many spiatial planes – and imagine yourself in multiple actions. This is where you experience flight. The combination of compression, working arms and legs, lengthening through the arms, legs and spine create the multiple actions and when you consider that you are also balancing it is amazing. The combination of all of the above, aligning with the energy of your chakras will give you a whole new insight into who you are. This is one of my favorite poses. I also like to fold forward and touch my elbow to my knee and my hands in prayer rest at my third eye.Tweet
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I’m working on folding forward in eagle. I also love this pose- something about it. maybe it’s the chakras aligning like you mentioned
thanks for the comment — i think sometimes when i move into a pose that appears “advanced”, it’s just sheer luck. there are some poses that took me forever to do (like 20+ years to do headstand) and am in awe of the fact that i can do it and that it feels amazing and i really can feel the energy shifting in me AND i believe in all of the principles that explain why it is so beneficial for me physically and intellectually. there are some poses i think i’ll never be able to do, like full lotus. you know and i know, though, that it is not about “getting there” but moving forward in a way that speaks to your heart and soul. I love the path of yoga. the journey continues to inspire me. keeping flying in eagle. ~ Namaste