Yoga Pose of the Week: Trataka

Trataka is the yogic cleansing practice of gazing at a candle without blinking until the eyes form tears.

We don't practice this one in my tradition, so I can't advise you on how to do it. (Similarly unqualified: the 24 writers this season.) I'd advise those who wish to practice this -- and the writers of this season's 24 -- to find a qualified teacher.

We can all safely shed a tear, though, about the late, great 24.

(Tears are tasteless by flickr's megyarsh, used under Creative Commons license.)

Yoga Pose of the Week: Cobra Pose

To commemorate the journey through the improbable tunnel between the UN and New Jersey, cobra pose. This beautifully executed version of "low cobra" also shows the lead in through "knees/chest/chin." Notice how the front and back of the yoga student's neck are equally long, and and how the tops of her armbones are moving towards the back plane of her body. That's alignment.

(And that's some of the alignment that is missing from the President's Cabinet! I hope that Ethan will turn out to be faking his heart issues, and come back kicking -- or maybe Evil -- next episode.)

Signing off.

Yoga Pose of the Day: Camel

That's a good stretch! (And tonight's episode definitely stretched credulity.)

Good night!

Yoga Pose of the Week: Savasana

This week was a bit of a snooze. I pick savasana as our yoga pose of the week.


Paul Komarek, we heart you. And, you're hilarious. We're snagging this photo of savasana, final relaxation pose, from your "Yoga With Jeero" page. (Hopefully, since we're attributing this photo, it won't be a violation of the ethical precept of yoga, asteya, non-stealing.)

Pose of the Week: Eye Yoga

In celebration of Tony's nefarious eye-rolling in response to Renee's "I'm gonna get you and make you pay," statement, the women of The 24 Blog bring you...

...eye yoga.

I have to admit, I don't practice this one myself, it comes from a different tradition. I understand that it helps to relieve tension, and some feel that it might even help to improve vision.

Have at it!

(Image from Certified Blogaholic.)

I Was Too Tired -- Yoga Pose of the Week: Lion Pose

I was so tired last night that I posted things out of order, and forgot to find the photo that "M" and I discussed needing for our Yoga Pose of the Week....

Lion Pose.

Allow me to take a moment to wonder why any yogi, no matter how well meaning, would allow themselves to be photographed in this pose.

The action is a rapid exhale, accompanied by extension of your fingers and tongue while making a crazy face and a kind of roaring "ha" noise. (The eye crossing in this photo must be strictly optional. We don't practice this pose often in my tradition, thus, thankfully, I'll never be photo'd in it.)

Benefits include relief of tension in the face (we've got lots of muscles in our faces), rapid diaphragmatic action (which can have all kinds of powerful effects on your lungs, and I might guess even your digestion) and not to mention the value of inappropriate laughter. If hearty enough, the health benefits are just as potent as those of appropriate laughter.

"M" picked this pose because it inappropriately resembles Jack's convulsions. (Which she inappropriately finds humorous. I actually think that "M"s humorous view of this sad, albeit fictional, circumstance is a masking sort of laughter that relieves the tension of something much deeper...the potential end of "M"s relationship with Jack....sob.)

Until next week...

Pose of the Week: Gomukhasana

Gomukhasana means "cow-face pose". Sometimes when I'm practicing it, I feel kind of stuck.

...perfect for this week's combination of limited mobility: facial, and plot.

(Photo From Yoga Art and Science)

Namaste!

Are you ready? Maybe we should take some deep cleansing Yoga breaths?

Bauer Yoga: Tadasana

Here's Jack, in mountain pose. (He's just moving into the pose: he's about to set the gun down on the top stair, pull his left shoulder back to square with his right, let his arms hang down to the side naturally...and narrow his feet to hip distance.)

This pose builds stability and aligns all of one's parts optimally with the force of gravity.

(The force of gravity apparently bends to Jack's will in the 24-verse: he's demonstrating the pose for the benefit of all other beings.)

See everyone in about 36 minutes!

Karen breathe, deep cleansing breaths

The hubby thinks that he heard Bill going "OHMMMMMMM". Now that was a tender moment

Bauer Yoga: Anantasana

Here's Jack, in a preparatory variation for the pose Anantasana. It's a nice side stretch, helps to develop balance, and is accessible to yogis at all levels.

You can see how relaxed he is, too. That's another benefit of yoga!

Here's the full pose, beautifully and precisely shown by one of the yogis of East Clare Yoga, in County Clare, Ireland.

Bauer Yoga: Malasana

In homage to the hilarious Bush Yoga, I've been trolling the web for photos of Jack in yoga poses. Here he is in malasana, or garland pose.

If Jack were to put a rolled towel or blanket beheath his heels, he'd be as beautifully grounded as this yogini, and he'd be able to stretch his spine taller. (This would be a good counter to carrying the man purse, which drags one shoulder down.)

"M" is Gonna Hurl - Bill Buchanan, Yogi!

The guy that plays Bill Buchanan, James Morrison, is a yoga teacher too!

It isn't just watchers of 24, people in the 24-verse are practicing. It makes me feel good to think that Kiefer, Mary Jane, and James are "om-ing" before they pretend to be characters who medically interrogate their loved ones: is it long before they have to interrogate Morris? maybe he really didn't fail to install a back door on the suitcase nukes...maybe he did it ON PURPOSE! (Chloe, please don't turn out to be either stupid or evil!)

I think you have to pick up the free issue of New York Yoga to read the interview; it doesn't look like it is posted at their website.