Monday, September 3, 2012

"Work or Play?"

In honor of our nation's celebration of Labor Day, today's blog will discuss the subject of work or labor.  This American holiday actually began with a Central Labor Union Parade in New York City on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 to honor "the strength and spirit of trade in labor organizations," and the parade was repeated again on September 5th of the following year.  The idea of celebrating the contribution of industrial workers then gained more emphasis through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886, but didn't become a law in most states until Oregon in 1887, with 23 states following suit through 1894.  Finally, on June 28, 1894 Congress passed an act making the first Monday in the month of September a United States Federal holiday to pay tribute to the American worker.  The vacation day for workers evolved into a day of play marking the end of summer activities---family picnics in the park, tennis and golf tournaments, etc. because, as the old adage goes, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."  Or as the French author, Voltaire, said in Candide, "Work keeps at bay three great evils:  boredom, vice and need."
The law of physics defines "work" as the movement of anything from one place to another, so any movement of our physical body can technically be defined as work, as in, "Work that body!"  When we become lazy or unwilling to work for what we desire, we realize that wishing does not make it happen.  For example, if you're an avid golfer who had to take several months off from playing to recover from a serious surgery, and when you get back on the links you suddenly notice that you're not able to hit the drives off the tee as far as you had prior to surgery,  what do you do about this new development?  Clearly the torso and arm muscles have atrophied, so you must decide if you're committed enough to the game to "workout" at the gym or in a vigorous yoga practice to regain the lost strength.  Otherwise, be satisfied with your handicap going up and up.
This same work principle is true of a balanced yoga practice that incorporates three segments called "mountains" into the mix: breath control and spiritual focus during warm up postures, physical  movement or work to build body heat lead by the regular rhythm of the breath, and finally, cool down stretches to relax the muscles and release any accumulated tension.  This week's "Spinal Balance to Dog Lift" can be added as a physical transition from "Mountain I " warm up to the "Mountain II" work portion of a well-balanced yoga practice.  This breath-synchronized movement---therefore, "work" by definition---is safe for prenatal students.

  • Physically---After prayer and a few slow breath-synchronized spinal warm ups called "Cat and Cow" or Chakravakasana, (described in the December 20, 2010 blog), take a slow and deep inhalation through the nose only while extending the right arm and left leg straight out in opposite directions with the gaze following the right thumb (called angusta ma dyai drishti).  Remain grounded on the left hand and right knee with the hips level or squared to the ground, and the fingers and toes spread wide as you notice the flow of energy or prana flowout through the tips of the fingers of the right hand and down to the toes of the left foot.  
  • The  "Spinal Balance to Dog Lift" continues as the right hand returns to the floor and the left knee bends and circles out to the left, around doggy-style as high as is comfortable, in the "Dog Lift," and then squeeze the knee in toward the left elbow before returning to the floor.  Be sure to make this movement long and slow during the entire exhalation as the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles (called the mula bandha and the uddiyana bandhas) are drawn up and in toward the spine in order to support the torso and develop a strong core. 
  • To switch sides on the next inhalation extend the left arm and right leg straight out in a "Spinal Balance" and then exhale the right bended knee out and around to the right (doggy-style) in the "Dog Lift"  before squeezing it toward the right elbow in the heat-building "Kriya Crunch," as described in last week's blog. This week's  "Spinal Balance to Dog Lift" may be repeated 3-5 times on one side before switching, OR it may be alternated, one side at a time.  
  • Mentally---Set your intention before transitioning to the work portion ("Mountain II") of your practice.  Keep in mind that repeating the work on one side at a time tends to work the muscles harder on that side by burning fat and developing endurance  on that side  before switching sides.
  • Spiritually---Experience the great satisfaction and joy found in movement, otherwise known as "work."  As tennis enthusiast, Andrew S. Rooney said in the 1987 San Francisco Sunday Examiner & Chronicle, "Working is so satisfying that if we didn't have to work to eat, we'd have to invent some other reason for doing it."  In the words of John Clarke, "Sweet is the fruit of labor."  (1596-1658)
Or as The Book of Proverbs advises, "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established."   (Proverbs 16:3, KJV)