Energy for life

When you have energy, you feel good and life looks good. Positivity is effortless. When you feel drained, it's a different story. Short tempers and emotional outbursts abound. Or you switch over to automatic pilot in a zombie like attempt just to get through the day. Instead of reaching for a candy bar or coffee, take a couple of minutes to breathe and practice a few of the exercises explained here. They can be practiced individually or together to energize body and brain. If you have no more than a couple of minutes to spare, try the quick-fix meditation on page 89, making sure that you leave time to rest deeply afterwards. And in case you need a reminder, you deserve to feel good!

Brighten up

This fast-acting energizer can be done any time you need a pick-up. It increases the flow of energy and oxygen to your brain and brightens up your outlook. In the science of yoga, each area of the hand reflexes to a certain area of the body or brain. Your thumbs relate to your ego or unique personality. Stretching your thumbs upward activates a positive ego.

1: Sit between your heels, or alternatively on your heels. Lift your chest as you raise your arms to a 60° angle. Begin Breath of Fire. After 1-3 minutes, inhale deeply and hold the breath.

2: Slowly draw your thumbs together overhead on the held breath until the tips of your thumbs meet.

3: Then exhale, opening the palms and slowly lowering your arms down in an arc around your body. As you lower your arms, imagine you are tracing the arc line of your aura, your surrounding field of energy.

Spring back

Physically, this exercise works on revitalizing all body systems, and can be a great aerobic workout. Mentally, it gives you the ability to spring back into life. It gives you an edge because it helps you to think fast. A woman must be physically active in order to have this edge.

1: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent. Your hands are in fists, with the palms facing each other in front of the chest.

2: As you exhale, punch forward with the left arm while simultaneously springing off the ground and bringing the left leg forward and the right leg back into a front stance position. During the jump, your right fist pulls back to the left side of your chest.

3: Spring back to the original position (step 1) on your next inhalation. Continue this action on the same side for 1-2 minutes. Then change sides. The jumping movement should be light and fast.

Bundle roll

The tightening of the body in Bundle Roll strengthens muscle mass as well as strengthening your entire nervous system. It is good for relieving hyperactivity and anxiety in adults and children. Be sure to have soft padding underneath you as you practice Bundle Roll.

1: Lie down on your back with your arms straight at your sides. Stiffen your body, point your toes, and begin to rock from side to side until you flip over to one side, Keep your body straight.

2: Flip onto your front, then roll from front to back and back to front, flipping over and over without bending. Maintain a tension in your entire body throughout. Continue for 2-3 minutes, then relax on your back or front for a minute.

Bridge

This pose massages and invigorates the digestive organs, and is excellent for general strengthening of the ovaries and uterus. Bridge is a good preparation for Wheel, or can be practiced as an alternative to it.

1: Lie on your back with your knees bent. Place the feet flat on the ground close to the buttocks. Reach down and grasp each ankle with the respective hands, or place your hands on the ground beside you with the palms down.

2: Keeping the feet, head, and upper shoulders on the ground, roll up. Start with your pelvis and follow with your upper spine. Lift as high as is comfortable as you inhale, then roll down as you exhale. As you roll down, lead with your upper spine, and follow with the lower. Continue for 1-2 minutes. Then stretch up and begin Breath of Fire for I more minute.

Counter pose for bridge and wheel

Tuck your knees into your chest with your hands on your shins, and breathe deeply for 20 seconds-1 minute.

Meditation for absolutely powerful energy

Only two minutes are needed to relieve "brain drain", or mental fatigue, with this
meditation. It is important to allow resting time afterward.

1: Sit in Easy pose with a straight spine. Place your palms together. Keep your ring fingers together and extended as you interlace and fold down the other fingers.

2: Hold your hands several inches out from your solar plexus / diaphragm area. Your extended fingers point up at a 60° angle.

3: Close your eyes. Inhale deeply through the nose but keep your mouth open. Chant the mantra Ong, extending the sound through your nasal passages as "Ooonnnnng." Sense the sound coming from the upper back area of your soft palate at the juncture of the throat and nasal passages. As you chant, your navel will pull back slightly toward your spine, and your attention will naturally flow upward to the sixth chakra (your brow point). Repeat five times, or continue for longer if you wish. Then rest or go to sleep.

Wheel

Beside the Wheel's obvious benefits of increasing the flexibility of the spine and strengthening the muscles of the abdomen, legs and arms, this powerful pose energizes your mental faculties, improves your memory, and is extremely beneficial for your glandular system, especially the lymph system. Inverted postures such as Wheel, Shoulder stand and Plow literally and figuratively "turn you upside down" in the sense that they give you a new perspective on life.

Preparing for wheel

1: Lift up as high as possible in Bridge, then bring your hands to the ground behind the shoulders. The palms should be flat on the ground with the fingers pointing toward the shoulders.

2: Arch your body further upward as your arms and feet press the ground. Your neck will arch back as you bring the top of your head to the ground. Take a few deep breaths, then relax down slowly releasing your neck carefully. Stay at this level as long as you like before trying the full pose.

Full wheel

1: Lie on your back with your knees bent. Place the feet flat on the ground close to the buttocks. Bring your hands to the ground behind your shoulders, palms flat on the ground with the fingers pointing toward the shoulders.

2: Inhale and lift your body upward, straightening your elbows and arching your hips and chest up as high as possible. Allow your head to drop back. Do Breath of Fire or deep breathing for between 30 seconds and 2 minutes.

3: Come down carefully and gently from the pose, starting with the upper body, and rest in counter pose.