There are some poses that produce an emotional response, I first experienced this in half pigeon pose or even king pigeon (eka pada rajakapotasana). I noticed after an especially long deep stretch on the second side, there were tears in my eyes. I felt silly and a little embarrassed - not weeping mind you- but just a little emotional enough to brush past it and move on like I usually do. I asked my Yoga instructor after class an she said it was totally common and that our hips often store up old hurts like heart aches or lost loves. When you compress and release some of these feelings come up and out. I think I have to agree because I felt really good after practice that day, lighter and a little freer. So from now on if I feel a few emotions coming up I just go with it and embrace it, hoping to say goodbye forever to a few ghosts that I cant get rid of.

 

A few other poses that induce emotions are connected with heart or chest openers like camel (ustrasana) or wheel (urdhva dhanurasana). Understandable because you are opening up your heart- such a vulnerable area..

One thing I learned that was so valuable in Teacher Training was when you are in an inverted position, never move your head or neck or risk injury. In shoulder stand (salamba sarvangasana), plow pose (halasana) or dead man's pose (karnakadasana), never look from side to side. Nothing worse than a neck ache especially when you have to drive a car!! We've all done it! It's not a pretty sight!

One of the things that changed my practice was finally finally realizing that I cannot go to the next pose until I breathe. I slowed down my practice to my breath and not necesarily staying in time with the rest of the class but in making my practice my own, my practice changed, deepened and became less taxing, more rejuvenating. Big huge thanks to Jo Mary who taught this to me, her practice is awesome and if I could even begin to emulate how she treats her body during her yoga practice I would be in so much better shape. But then again strike that! In Yoga there is no competition so to strive for what she attains is great but my practice is my practice and I will always be happy with that.... the main thought is the breath sustains you.