Travel Yoga (11 page)

            Breathe … relax …

                        imagine journeying into the Grand Canyon.

                   Soar into its depths, inhale the fresh air,

                        lose yourself in the majestic beauty.

                   Find calm in the canyon!

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes
.

—Marcel Proust

Try the stretches in this section as you are getting settled into your seat. They will help you get comfy and prepare you for the next step of your journey
.

First, sit on your sit bones; to find these sharp bones, place your hands under your buttocks and rock forward and backward until your weight is on these two bones.

Notice that when you rise forward, your body aligns atop your sit bones; your back straightens, your chest expands, and your shoulders, neck, and head rise and align.

Now sit back on your tailbone—everything slumps and drops, including your mood!

Rise forward again. Feel your spine lift into a straight line all the way up to your head, and hold.

Let your shoulders relax, soften your jaw, lower your chin, and take a few deep, calm breaths.

Courage is like love, it must have hope for nourishment
.

—Napoléon Bonaparte

While sitting, interlace fingers below one knee.

Bend leg up toward your chest.

Stretch forehead to knee. Hold and breathe.

Switch legs.

While sitting, cross your left leg over your right.