How can moving the lungs support our practice?

An embodied exploration of movements initiated by your organs. And how this allows for deepening your practice.

In this blogpost I am going to share my experiences around the exploration and embodiment of my latest workshop, that changed my whole movement practice.

Take a look outside and try to find a tree. How does it make you feel? What does a tree mean to you?

Trees act like the lungs of the earth. Trees help the planet breathe by turning carbon dioxide into clean, pure oxygen. They have a strong rooting system deep down into the earth. Their trunk gives the tree a stable foundation, resisting different seasons and weather influences. Their branches are spreading lightly into all kind of directions. Allowing animals to find home or a place to rest on. And giving shade for everyone who is in need.

Why am I talking about trees now?

Because I like to give you a direct exploration of my teachings on the example of the yogic "Tree Pose".

I am rooting my foot into the ground beneath me. My leg rebounds from there, and gives a stable foundation for the rest of my body to elongate.

I use my arms and head to spread out into space. Here I find lightness and an easy mind.

The most precious organ in our body is our lung.

Our lung consists of a left lobe and a right lobe; which are themselves divided into an upper, middle and lower part. In between the two lobes the lung holds our heart.

Let's explore the three different parts of our lungs.

Place your left hand on top of your right shoulder. Take a full breath in, and receive the upper part of the lung expanding upwards, right underneath your collarbone.

Place your left hand on the side of your right ribcage, even slightly on your breast. Take a full breath in, and receive the middle part of the lung expanding sideways into your hand.

Place your left hand around your right waist, up a little to touch the lower ribcage on your back. Take a full breathe in, and receive the lower part of the lung expanding downwards and backwards.

Take your time with this exploration. Take at least 10 breath on every part of the lung. And repeat on the other side.

Lets's explore the movement of the two lobes.

Receive your breath again.

Shift your awareness to the left lobe of your lungs. How does it feel to breath into all 3 parts together? How do you feel your body moving?

Take a full breath into your left side body. And through the expansion of your lung allow your left arm to rise up to the sky.

Do this a couple of times. Really trying to allow your arm to move, initiated by the expansion of the lung.

Repeat on the right side. And then both together.

The first time I really received the movement of my arms, rather than wanting to move them, I felt this tingling, awakening sensation inside my chest - like a child learning to ride a bicycle

Let's bring it all together.

Prepare for "Tree Pose". Choose the foot position, you feeling most stable with. Ground your feet into the earth. Find a steady foundation from your leg and pelvis.

Now connect to your breath and the movement inside of your lungs on every inhalation and exhalation.

Fill your lungs with air and reach your arms up over head. The arms and the head reaching into the space around you, supported by the movement of the lungs.

From here, explore side bending. As if your tree is moved by the air.

Breath into your right lung, your right arm reaches up higher. As you find your side bend, leaning over to the left. Try to imagine the left lobe of the lung glides underneath the right.

The lobes of your lung can glide alongside each other

Do you want to explore this session in person?

Book a session with me.

And change your practice into a new dimension.

Not only for yoga practices!

This is a lesson for living and breathing more easeful.

Thank you so much for your time and your curiosity.

Love, Lara