Guest Author - Nancy Welker
An introductory asana that's among the easiest to learn, this pose gives you the ease of simplicity with an energizing effect that you'll feel right away.
Five Pointed Star Pose opens your chest, letting you breathe in deeply, and improves your circulation. Spinal alignment is vital to overall health, and this asana helps you to correct any tendencies to stand/sit at an unnatural angle. Five Pointed Star can also help prevent (and in some cases correct) the common round-shouldered problem that many women acquire with age or also from pregnancy.
This asana can be used as a starting position or as a transitional position in some sequences, and gracefully moves into Triangle Pose, Standing Wide Angle Foward Bend and Goddess Pose.
Instructions
1. Begin in Mountain Pose.
2. Step your right foot out (to the right) between 3 and 5 feet.
*Make sure your feet are parallel and that your toes are pointing straight ahead.
3. Raise your arms up to shoulder height at your sides, your palms facing downward.
4. Relax your shoulders down and back.
5. Tuck your tailbone under (down) to help prevent your lower back from over-arching.
6. Press your feet into the floor, and raise the crown of your head skyward.
7. Extend your arms outward, as if an imaginary string was pulling at your fingertips.
8. Hold this position for at least 30 seconds, or as long as you are comfortable.
9. Return to Mountain Pose.
Mental Focus
Imagine your body having all the beautiful and positive attributes of a star. Bright energy, glowing light and warmth are all things you can focus on to add to the benefits of this asana. Picture yourself lengthening in all five directions at once - through the crown of your head, and through each arm and leg.
Breathing Awareness
While holding Five Pointed Star, you should focus on breathing evenly and smoothly. As you inhale, feel your breath coming into the center of your body. As you exhale, feel your breath, like golden light, radiating out through the crown of your head, out through your fingertips, and out through the soles of your feet.
Problem Solving
If you feel strain in your shoulders or arms, you can assume Five Pointed Star with your hands placed on your hips instead. It's got a somewhat different energy to it in this position, as now the focus should be on the warmth and light radiating into your body from the arms and through the hands.
Special Note: Some Yogis also use the alternate arm positioning as a way to "bring in" more healing energy when they are experiencing pain or illness in the abdominal or lower back area. Women who are trying to conceive can also choose to direct the positive energy to the female reproductive organs.
Om Shanti
Links to Mountain Pose, and to the New Moon Yoga Sequence (an original, created by me) are posted below. The New Moon Sequence can be practiced anytime, and is a very easy, gently uplifting routine.
