Yoga for gardening
I live in Michigan, and spring had a pretty slow start here. As soon as the snow melted, I could feel a strong drive to spend time outside and get my hands dirty by tending to my neglected garden. Feeling the actual soil under my fingers feels meditative and grounding, I like it a lot. What I don’t like is how stiff and contracted my body feels when I get up after 2-3 hours of crouching down.
The practice below helps me feel tall and loose again; it specifically targets the back, neck, hips, and knees and helps the joints regain their mobility and stability. I prefer to do the practice outside right after my gardening session; it feels great to breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the sight of bright green sprouts poking through the ground. The first pose in the practice is also useful before you begin gardening; it helps warm up all the key areas. Give it a try, and let me know what you think!
When you don’t have time, energy, or mental space to be too inventive, it’s good to know that there are reliable routines that you can fall back on.
another lovely sequence -very timely with our sunny weather
Thank you Jo! Enjoy the sun!
I am so grateful for this short sequence! I will be using it a lot this Spring/Summer 🙂
Thanks!
Thank you Jen. You and me both! Hope it works for you 🙂
Thank you for this, Olga – the perfect practice for right now. I also enjoyed your words about the feel of the soil being “meditative and grounding”. So true! Often, while in my garden, I notice that I feel very much the same as I do during yoga practice – a sense of calm & well-being.
Have done many of your sequences and was wondering why almost every one ends with dwi pada pitham?
That’s pretty common in my tradition. Dvipada Pitham is really useful as a counterpose; we usually do it after sitting postures which helps to compensate for all the hip flexing we do in sitting, as well as move the lower back in the other direction. You can also add all kinds of arm movements which helps to relieve stress from the neck/shoulders.
Hello!
I just wanted to express how much I enjoy your site, your sequences and your clear, simple instructions! Thank you for adding your voice and knowledge to the yoga world.