Easy Pose (SUKHASANA)

Practice chest-opening yoga poses, and other asanas that help you connect to the air element, like the ones listed here…

Before you start your yoga practice, you’ll want to bring awareness to your breath and connect to the air element. This is a seated pose, but don’t let the name confuse you as easy pose can be quite challenging, especially with a monkey mind. Practice this pose while bringing all of our attention to your breath – deep inhales and complete exhales through the nose.

Start in a seated position with your legs extended in front of you.

Bend your knees and cross your legs in front of you at the shins.

Place each foot under the opposite knee, and place your hands on your knees, palms down.

Balance your weight evenly. Align your head, neck, and spine.

Hold for 5 to 10 slow, steady breaths.

Release and change the cross of your legs.

Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana)

Start your yoga practice by opening up your chest with this pose. The air element is embodied in the breath and opening up your chest allows you to expand your lung capacity.

Begin by lying prone on the floor with your big toes touching

Place your palms on the floor with your elbows bent and fingertips slightly behind your shoulders.

As you press your elbows toward your torso, lift your head and upper chest.

Hold for 5 to 10 breaths.

Cow/Cat Pose (Bitilasana/Marjaryasana)

Combining Cow Pose with Cat Pose creates a continuous and deliberate flow of air movement as you expand and contract your chest. Focusing on your breath as your move through these two poses is a great way to connect to the air element.

Come to your hands and knees, with your body in a tabletop position

Bring your wrists underneath your shoulders and your knees under your hips

Spread your fingers and press your palms into the ground..

Draw your shoulder blades onto your back and curl your toes under.

On an inhale, move into Cow Pose by arching your back and allowing your belly to sink to the floor

Lift your head and look straight in front of you

On an exhale, move into Cat Pose by rounding your spine and tucking your chin to your chest.

Bow Pose (Dhanurasana)

Bow Pose looks like an archer’s bow: your torso and legs representing the body of the bow, and your arms the string. This pose is another good one to open up your chest and better connect to the air element.

Lie flat on your belly with your arms alongside of you.

Bend both knees so the soles of your feet are facing the ceiling

Lift your head, upper chest, and thighs off the floor.

Helpful modification: Use a yoga strap to catch the feet if your arms can’t quite reach around to hold them

Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)

This gentle backbend will open up your chest, helping to keep your spine flexible.

Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor, hip width apart and directly under your knees.

Keep your arms straight along the sides of your body, and shuffle your shoulder blades slightly underneath the body

Press the palms of your hands into the floor and engage your quadriceps and stomach muscles

Slowly lift your hips and spine, and continue to draw your shoulders under your body, possibly even interlacing your hands below your hips

Helpful modification: Bring a block or bolster under the base of your spine to support your body weight

Camel Pose (Ustrasana)

Camel Pose is a more advanced chest-opening pose, so make sure to be aware of your body and its limits, especially if you have lower back or neck issues.

Kneel on the floor with your knees hip-width apart and your thighs perpendicular to the floor. Tuck your toes under.

Bring your hands to your low back, your fingers pointing down

Inhale and draw your hips forward, while walking your gaze up and back. You should feel an opening of the chest

To deepen the pose, continue to lean back and reach for one heel at a time. Hold onto each of your heels, with your fingertips pointing toward your toes and thumbs on the outside of each foot

Keep your thighs perpendicular to the floor, with your hips directly over your knees.

Lord of the Dance Pose (Natarajasana)

When you’re ready to add a little challenge to a chest-opener, this pose will also give you the opportunity to practice balancing.

Begin by focusing your eye gaze on one point that is not moving

Bring your weight to balance on the right leg

Slowly reach your left hand for the inside of your left ankle as your start to draw your chest forward and your right leg back

Extend your right arm overhead as you continue to draw your heart forward and up.

Slowly release and repeat on the other side.

Meditation

As we sink gently into our mat relaxing all our muscles - we get to contemplate our material universe which is built on our five basic elements. We focus on our element air - invite yourself to contemplate its nature ...............observe the space you have created with your breath and allow yourself to go deeper into your consciouness. Taking a few more breaths, arrive in this moment and into your body. Put aside distracting thoughts or feelings just for a moment.

As we continue to explore our universe, we move with our breath on to the Air element. Air is movable, changeable and light. For this Savasana we will focus on our personal air element: the breath. Attach your mind to your breath and follow its movement in and out. Continue this journey as you simply observe..... as you continue with your observation - allow your deep breath to take you to conscious breathing. By doing this, you will gain a better relationship with all things that are light, flowing or airy. As we learn to balance to our air element, you will be able to freely give love and receive love. You will feel so much lighter and open.

Reference: The Chopra Center