Shadow

This past weekend we all waited on the edges of our seats for the Great Seasonal Oracle of the Rodent to predict the arrival of spring. Or maybe this imaginary holiday slipped past you in your excitement over the big game?

All this business with shadows on Groundhog Day reminds me of The Shadow. No, I don't mean the 1930s radio crime-fighting character or even the 90s movie version. I'm talking psychology, the pretty smart Carl Jung specifically. Jung said that our shadows are the negative aspects of our personalities that we tend to ignore and suppress. Of course we try to avoid our "evil twin" sides, right? But that's a mistake, according to Jung. He said that if we are brave enough to acknowledge and examine our "psychic junk," we are less likely to suffer from it rearing its ugly head at the most embarrassing times.

So what do you have lurking in your deep subconscious today? Can you bring it out, even for a moment, making peace with its presence?

Whether good ol' Phil saw his shadow or not, spring will eventually arrive. Whether you notice your own shadow or not, it will also make an appearance.

One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. -Carl Jung


Welcome to your second month of chair yoga. Good for you, keeping up with it this long! Even if you are not as consistent as you had hoped, you will still get the benefits of any time you take a break to just breathe and move your body. Today's session will take you about 8 minutes.
Instructions for all sessions: FAQs

1. Begin by warming up your shoulders: roll them up to your ears as you inhale and roll them back and down as you exhale. Repeat 3-4 times.

2. Stretch your arms wide on an inhale then as you exhale, swing the arms around so the hands land on the opposite shoulders, giving yourself a big hug. Repeat the wide stretch and as you hug the second time, the other arm can be on top.

3. Lift one knee off the chair seat, you can hold the back of the thigh for support. Flexing the foot on the raised leg, slowly spin the lower leg in both directions 3 times each. Place the thigh back on the seat and repeat on the other side.

4. Inhale both arms straight up for the ceiling, then on your exhale, fold at the hips so your belly comes to rest on your thighs. Let your head hang, releasing all the neck muscles. You may even rest your head on your knees if you can reach. Let your arms flop to the floor on either side of your legs. Rest here for 5 complete breath cycles.

5. Bring your hands to your knees and on an inhale, slowly push yourself back to sitting.

6. Cross your legs by bringing your right ankle to rest just above your left knee, keeping the right foot flexed at the ankle. ("man sit") If this stretch feels toe intense, rest your right ankle across your left shin, or even in front of your left ankle. Whatever leg cross works for you, think of pointing the right knee toward the ground, feeling the opening in your inner thigh and hip.

7. Still with your ankle resting across your knee/shin/opposite ankle,  rest your hands on your thighs for support, then begin a forward fold by slowly leaning your chest toward your knees, folding at the hip with your back staying flat. Lean forward enough to feel a gentle stretch, but not so far that you feel pain.

8. Return to sitting upright. Repeat #6 and #7 with the left ankle crossed above the right knee (or shin, or ankle).

9. Inhale your arms up to the ceiling, then exhale bringing your hands together in front of your heart, palms pressed together, thumbs on sternum. Close your eyes and take 5 slow, deep breaths before returning to your day.