Flamingo Yoga

“What the flamingo teaches a child...
is that gravity is not just a limitation,
but also a possible partner in an intriguing,
potentially joyful game.”
– John Burnside

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​It’s summertime. A time to splish and splash and balance like our friends the flamingos. Flamingos as spirit animals relate to personalities who are flamboyant, fun, very expressive, and surrounded by like-minded people.

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Diversity/ Integrity

Flamingo is a term used for six similar species of birds that have a wide geographical range. They frolic in tropical and subtropical regions on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. This diversity, combined with their flock being called a flamboyance (from a couple dozen to hundreds or even millions), is one reason why the LGBT community displays the flamingo as a symbol, especially during their annual summer Pride festivals. They aim to create a world free of prejudice and bias while forming diverse communities of people who share the same values of respect and integrity. In the context of Christianity and Judaism, they can also symbolize the ability to filter out lies and the need to speak only the truth from filtering the muddy water to find their crustacean food.
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Romance

In Aztec traditions, flamingos were symbols of love and passion, as well as healing due to their elaborate courtship rituals, romantic appearance, and parental dedication. They form intense pair bonds and rear their young together (building a nest together and taking turns to sit on their egg that incubates for a month).
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Word Origins
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An accurate cave painting of a flamingo, found in the south of Spain, dates back to 5,000 B.C. And, flamingos were significant in Egyptian mythology as a creature associated with the sun god, Ra. In Spanish, “flamenco” is connected to two things: a bird and an artistic expression of culture. The movements made during the dance are associated to those made by the elegant bird. 

The word 'flamingo' comes from the Latin word for 'fire' signifying their bright pink feathers. These brilliant feathers turn from greyish white at birth to magenta after years of eating beta-carotene found in the crustaceans (lobsters, shrimps and plankton).

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Breath of Fire

In yoga, we practice Breath of Fire. Breath of Fire is a rhythmic breath with equal emphasis on the inhale and exhale, no deeper than sniffing. It’s done by pumping the naval point towards the spine on the exhale and releasing the naval out on the inhale. It’s practiced through the nostrils with mouth and eyes closes. It generates heat and releases natural energy throughout the body, improving the digestive system, while strengthening and balancing the nervous system.
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Balance
Flamingos often only stand on one of their long legs. They balance in this way with effortless grace, and can even sleep in this position.
 
In the asana practice of yoga, we perform a variety of postures in which we stand only on one leg, imitating the flamingo. 

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5 Benefits of Balancing on One Leg:

 

• Enhances Focus and Concentration

• Improves Neuromuscular Coordination and Body Awareness

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• Strengthens Lower Body- Glutes, Legs, Ankles

• Builds Joint Stability and Agility

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• Supports Good Posture with Core Activation

How to Balance on One Leg Like a Flamingo
(Variation of One-legged Mountain Pose, Tree, Dancer, Warrior 3)
 

• Begin in standing Mountain Pose with your feet hips width distance apart and parallel on the outer edges. 
• Direct your gaze to focus on one point that isn’t moving. 
• This is called a drishti.
• Start with something on the ground, then as you advance in your balancing posture, let your gaze move up to the horizon, then the sky, then even try closing your eyes in the future.
• Remember that it’s ok to fall out of the pose. If you notice that you are starting to fall, try to land safely. Then find your grounding and try again. When you focus all your attention on the present moment, it becomes meditation.
  
  

• Shift your weight over to your right leg and float the left knee up to your chest for One-Legged Mountain Pose. 
• Inhale to lengthen the spine and reach the crown of the head up to the sky. 
• Exhale to wrap your hands around your left shin. 
• Make three circles with your ankle, each direction, to match your breath. ​
• Option to set your left foot back down and rest in Mountain pose for a few breaths before repeating on the other side, or continue balancing and move into the next postures (if you have any issues with your ankles or knees, take Mountain Pose in between).

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Transition to Tree Pose

• Open your left knee out to the left and place your left heel just above your right ankle, on your calf, or all the way up to your inner upper thigh. 
• Inhale press the left foot into the right leg just as the right leg pushes back to the left leg. 
• Exhale activate your core strength. 
• Inhale, reach the arms up to the sky, palms turn towards each other. 
• Exhale, turn your palms down and flap your wings back down to your sides. 
• Continue to breathe gracefully in through the nose and out through the nose for five slow breaths.
• Take a rest in Mountain Pose for a few breaths, or continue to the next balancing variation.

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Dancer
 

• Inhale release the left foot from the right leg and bring it to tap your bum.
• Exhale, reach around to grab ahold of your ankle or foot. 
• Send the heart forward and shoulders back.
• Inhale, reach the right arm overhead, alongside the ear.
• Exhale, kick back into your left hand.
• Bow forward and open the side ribs and neck.
• Stay present with your breath.
  
• Inhale again to reach up and exhale to lean forward for the next three to five breaths.
• Take a rest in Mountain Pose for a few breaths, or continue to the next balancing variation.

Warrior 3
 

• Exhale to release the left leg straight out behind you to form a right angle with the right leg. 
• Toes can point or flex.
• Inhale, broaden the collar bones.
• Keep your torso parallel with the earth.
• Inhale, stretch the arms out to your sides with the fingers wide and active.
• Exhale, engage the abdominals.
• Inhale, squeeze the shoulder blades towards each other.
• Exhale, lower your fingertips to the earth.
• Link your flapping wing movement with your next three to five breaths.
• Release into Mountain Pose and shake out your hips.
• Repeat the sequence on the other side.

Lets cultivate Flamingo energy this week:

Vibrant,
Outgoing,
Balanced,
and
​Full of Integrity!