The mind uses intuition for a keener awareness into the body. What does this mean? According to the Oxford Dictionary, “intuition is the ability to understand something immediately without the need for conscious reasoning,” further explained, “as the awareness of instinctive feeling.”

“Self-healing” is a way of initiating the inner consciousness of the mind into the body. Intuitive feelings can provoke unconscious knowledge into conscious awareness. Listening to your intuition or what is often termed, “gut level feeling” and may provide new insight into mental and emotional concerns expressed in the physical body. In everyday life, intuition may also provide an avenue for deeper awareness through a Yoga practice of postures.

Yoga practice brings together people from many walks of life to learn additional methods of moving the body through various postures to heal the mind and body from physical, mental emotional, spiritual wounds and can be a way forward to maintain health and wellness.

In the last Yoga class before the 2023 Christmas holiday at Shield Wellness Center, Yoga practioners suggested a variety of their favorite, challenging poses for everyone to experience. The Yoga poses they chose to practice drew attention to different energy levels when initiating the postures.

A pose they chose to demonstrate that strengthens the core muscles of the abdomen and legs is known as “Downward Dog.” Nancy Petersen, Inni Whitmill, Elizath Barrios and Elvis Gronoff worked in unison on this pose. This posture, as many other Yoga poses, acquired the name through long-standing traditional usage and knowledge familiar to practioners.

“Downward Dog” is a pose that lengthens the arms as well as the shoulders as hips are lifted from the ground and legs extended to the back side by side. It is important to keep the ears in line with the shoulders and the head lifted between the arms, as you execute the pose. To begin initiation into the pose, a chair can be used to hold onto for support as it is placed sturdy against a wall with each hand gripping the edge of the seat. For balance. the legs are extended to the back, with thighs resting on the seat of the chair. Stay in the posture for 20 to 30 seconds to warm up the torso before continuing to initiate the full pose. Another option to warm up the torso is by holding onto a pole horizontally behind the buttocks with feet hip-wide apart. Slowly forward bend while holding onto the pole and raising the arms overhead. Hold this pose for 20 or 30 seconds then slowly lower it down the back into a full standing position. The “Downward Dog” posture loosens a stiff neck and shoulders as the torso is lengthened.

With another new year ahead, open the mind and body with a positive outlook! Yoga helps to sustain a positive attitude, fortitude and fun while learning!

Join the Yoga class, at Shield Wellness Center, 4597 Casablanca Circle, Sebring every Tuesday and Friday, 1 to 2:30 p.m. and Thursdays, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Yoga is fun and with practice results in a stronger and healthier body! Let’s all look forward to a great healthy beginning in the New Year!