Hanuman Philosophy ~ Bite 1

The more I dive into Hanuman the more there is.  It feels too difficult to summarize the philosophy of Hanuman in one blog post so I've decided to deliver tastes to make it easier to digest.

What I'm sharing today, and a lot of what I'll share, is based on my understanding of the stories shared by Douglas Brooks - http://www.rajanaka.com/.

Hanuman is the form of desire.  He is always willing to change but has a reputation for holding fast.  There is an image of Hanuman ripping open his heart - opening to courage.  It is a gentle heart that is filled with ferocity!

The best you can do is become yourself!  What is it that you want to make your own?  What is it that you value?  Receiving the gift of who you are is the beginning of yoga.  

You are the seed and what you plant in your field becomes the fruit that you will ultimately taste. 

Oh Hanuman!

This month we have been exploring Hanumanasana and the philosophy behind Hanuman, the Monkey God.  I resisted Hanumanasana when it showed up as the pose this month.  I confessed  to the class that I wasn't sure I could teach Hanuman for more than a week.  Now the month is almost over and I am more interested in and fascinated by Hanuman than ever before.

The only downside of spending a month exploring a particular asana is that class, or our practice, ends up feeling quite similar for the month.  The upside of this is that our familiarity and consistency can lead to new questions or a greater understanding.

Some of the poses we have used this month to prepare for Hanumanasana are:

Pyramid (Parsvottanasana)
Revolved Triangle (Parivrtta Trikonasana)
Pigeon Prep
Pigeon Prep with a Thigh Stretch
Extended Hand to Big Toe Stretch (Utthitahasta Padangusthasana)
Hero (Virasana)
Hero with 1 leg extended forward fold (Triangmukhaipada Paschimottanasana)
Reclined Hero (Supta Virasana)
Bow (Dhanurasana)


Open hips, hamstrings, and thighs make Hanumanasana more fun!!

Facials are Wonderful

Yesterday I had a facial at the new spa in Moab, Spa Moab.  It had been 4 years since my last facial and  I won't be waiting that long again.  My estetician, Aomi, was kind and had very calm energy. I felt well cared for and I thought ~~~ this is almost better than a full body massage.  Thankfully, the spa offers many varieties of massage in addition to facials. 



Faye Hutchins, owner of Spa Moab, has done a beautiful job creating an inviting space to get a massage or facial.  The feel is similar to an art gallery as the walls are covered with pastels by her grandmother, and bright acrylics by a local Moab artist.  Faye also sells, Be Present, yoga clothing, some delicious smelling candles and cute baby clothes. The spa carries Eminence, an organic skincare line that feels rich and decadent on your skin.  Faye has been working with Eminence for years and she can tell you, in detail, which Eminence product is right for your skin type. 

I recommend treating yourself to a facial as soon as possible.  YUM!

The walls are covered with brilliant art

Faye, on the left, during the Open House last Friday - two guests enjoying the art.