“Every dog must have his day.” ~ Jonathan Swift Dog Days are historically associated with the hottest days of summer and the period following the rising of the Dog Star, Sirius, from July 3 to August 11 each year in the Northern Hemisphere. In ancient Greece and Rome, the Dog Days were believed to be a time of drought, bad luck, and unrest, when dogs and people would be driven mad by the extreme heat. However, in modern times, the Dog Days are associated purely with the time of summer’s peak temperatures and humidity. “These are strange and breathless days, the dog days, when people are led to do things they are sure to be sorry for after.” ― Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting At Fun Yoga on the Bay, the Dog Days of Summer are our favorite time to practice many variations of Downward Facing Dog. Adho Mukha Svanasana is my “go to” inversion and what I believe to be the most well-rounded yoga posture. An inversion is any pose where the heart is above the head. It is also one of the safest and most accessible ways to practice being upside down. Benefits of Practicing Downward-Facing Dog
Getting Started
As the blood recirculates to the head, allow this upside-down perspective to open your inner eye to see beyond the physical world in front of you. Once you find an understanding of your body in this pose, you can begin to enjoy it as a resting posture. “You can be in Downward Dog, hating every second of it. Or you can be in this pose, peaceful and nonreactive, breathing calmly. Either way, you're in this pose. You decide the quality of your experience. Be the thermostat, not the temperature.” — Lisa Genova Photo Credit: Puppytoob Fun Variations
On average, individuals who use inversions as part of a daily yoga practice find that they have an easier ability of staying positive and light-hearted throughout the day. The added blood flow to the face, combined with intense focus, adds a youthful afterglow to our complexion as well as a calmer overall demeaner. Join me in a Downward Facing Dog or other inversion of your choice to feel for yourself the overwhelming joy and connectivity that comes from applying this experience of wisdom. Photo Credit: Puppytoob “The dog lives for the day, the hour, even the moment.”
~ Robert Falcon Smith
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Hannah Faulkner
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