Birds

CROW POSE MINI CHALLENGE

Posted on by pennyjoliver

In stormy weather, all birds find shelter, but the eagle is the one bird that avoids it all by flying above the clouds. In fact, it is the storms on the earth that give the eagle the fuel to soar. Unfortunately, we human beings often get our talons stuck in day-to-day worries. God is ready and able to lift us high above. We only need to trade in our worries and trust these amazing words for lift off…

Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.

Isaiah 40:31

The first five Yoga Poses below are strength building exercises. Complete these exercises on a regular basis and build up to Crow. When you feel that you are ready for Crow Pose, spread your wings and lean forward into the wind. Of course if you are already in full Crow, “happy flying!”

Relax for a few moments and breathe deeply to get in the flying zone.When you feel you are ready, grab a mat, water, towel and let’s fly!

 

1.) Hero Pose With Shoulder Stretch

  • Sit on your heels, or cross-legged.
  • Lift your left arm straight up. Bend your elbow and lower your hand to your upper back area.
  • Lift your right hand up to meet your left hand. Clasp them together.
  • Lift your chin, gaze up to heaven.
  • Hold the stretch for 5 -10 deep inhales and exhales.
  • Repeat with your right arm on top.
  • You may repeat this stretch a few more times with each side on top.
  • If your hands do not meet yet, work towards it!

2.) Plank Pose

  • From a seated position, walk your hands out to Plank Pose.
  • Your shoulders should be directly above your wrists.
  • Pull your belly in, with your legs at hip width.
  • Breathe deeply for 10 counts.
  • If you cannot do the full pose, lower to your knees and breathe deeply to build strength.
  • Repeat breathing deeply for 10 counts, and do this 3-5 more times in either position.

3.) Down Dog

  • From Plank Pose, lower your head and lift your sitting bones up.
  • Tuck your head under; look at your knees.
  • Feel a good stretch in the backs of your legs. Keep your heels down.
  • Breathe deeply for 5-10 counts.
  • Place your knees on the mat directly below your hips. Your wrists should be directly below your shoulders.
  • Lower back down to Plank Pose when you complete the exercise.
  • If possible, lower to Plank Pose and lift up to Down Dog for 5-10 deep breaths.

4.) Running Plank Pose

  • Start in Plank Pose.
  • Lift your right foot, bringing your knee to your chest with a big inhale.
  • Exhale, kick your foot back, then place it on your mat.
  • Repeat with each leg for 5-10 counts. Inhale, bringing each knee in and exhaling as you kick back.
  • Speed this up for a bit of fun!

5.) Elbow Plank Pose

  • You may begin on all fours or with your knees lowered. Optimally you should start from Plank Pose.
  • From Plank Pose, lower to your elbows, then back up to Plank Pose.
  • Repeat the process, inhaling in Plank Pose and exhaling in Elbow Plank Pose.

6.) Crow Pose

  • Place your hand stretched out on your mat, with your hands directly below your shoulders.
  • Lean forward. It will give you an indication of how strong you are, and whether you can hold the pose.
  • If you’re feeling confident, place a knee on your elbow.
  • If you’re still confident, place the other knee on your other elbow.
  • Now you’re flying in Crow Position so breathe deeply!
  • If you fall, try again!

Halleluyah!

A FLOCK OF LOVE

Posted on by pennyjoliver

 

Before I started taking yoga pics, I never really was a fan of the outdoors. Now I can’t wait to go outside some where, anywhere and strike up a pose because God surprises me with His glory every time. With an abundance of His beauty to see there is always a truth to discover and wisdom to be learned from each and every pic. Regretfully, I was too blind and too busy to care. Especially blind for the millions of everyday birds outside my window. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I decided they are not worthy of my time nor my observation, it’s just I was too busy. But isn’t that the point? Though the birds fly above me and sit on trees outside my window, I was so absorbed in the cares of this life I could not even see them!

…and Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” And if your heavenly Father feeds the birds of the air, how much more will He feed you, His precious beloved child!”

Matthew 6:26

Perhaps God created birds to let us know that we are far more valuable than many, many birds put together. In Matthew 10:29, Jesus said,” Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?” Then, in Luke 12:16, He said, “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins?” Add it all up and we can’t help but realize that these sparrows are so cheap that you can buy four of them for two copper coins, and you get one thrown in for free!

Such common birds are those sparrows, yet not even one of these cheap birds falls to the ground without the Father’s knowledge (Matthew 10:29). Not one of them is forgotten before Him (Luke 12:6). So will He forget us who are of more value than all these birds put together? Maybe that is why Jesus also said,

“Therefore, do not worry, saying, “what shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?”…For your Heavenly Father knows that we need all these things.”

Matthew 6:31-32

If our Heavenly Father cares for cheap, common birds, and feeds them everyday, how much more will He care for us? For we are His dear precious children. May our hearts take comfort as we hear God say to us,

“Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Matthew 10:31

Perched on a tree branch, two birds were observing people rushing from once place to another. Looking at their faces, one bird asked the other, “Why are human beings so full of worries and cares?” The other bird answered, “Maybe they don’t have a heavenly Father like we do.” Perhaps that is why birds are able to fly. No cares and no worries to burden them and weight them down.

Maybe that is why every shape, color, and species of birds come together every morning and every evening in concert, without fail, to tweet out their grand opus before their Creator. And isn’t it such a blessing to know when God created the world, He even provided a sound system for His children? Even better, He gives us a perfectly composed concert to wake us everyday, and a lullaby to serenade us to sleep every evening. He also gave us guidance through the Scriptures to ensure we know without a doubt that God thinks about us, knows what we need, and has provided it all already. Simply because He loves us!

 

Halleluyah!

Next time you see or hear the birds be sure to remember that you are worth all of them to God!