Feather of the Peacock Pose

Last week Yoga International published a short video of my tip on how to stick your forearm stand (pincha mayurasana aka feather of the peacock pose). For this tip, you need a working split. One viewer wrote and asked, "what if you don't have a working split?" This was my response. I hope it's helpful:

Hi (insert name here)-

Thanks so much for asking! Without actually seeing where you are with your journey on pincha, it's hard for me to give you the one big pointer that will "tip" you over the edge to success! That being said, 

1) continue to work on your split - stretch hams and quads - both on the floor and standing 

2) keep working on the shoulder alignment for strength as well as shoulder mobility. the tighter the shoulders, the harder this pose will be since you have to fight not only gravity, but your own physical immobilities 

3) when you do kick up, think of kicking the legs straight up instead of into the wall. Its' like you are catching and upward wind tunnel. Once you are past the point of fear of going upside down, kicking into the wall can become a big habit, and a hard one to break. 

I hope I get to practice with you in person sometime! I would love to help you dial this in!

peace and love

Jean

and yes, I hope I get practice with all of you at some point - pincha mayurasana or something else. 
And here is the link to the quick tip:

https://yogainternational.com/article/view/one-quick-tip-for-sticking-your-forearmstand

Commandment #9: Love isn't Lust

Commandment #9: Love isn't Lust

Another excerpt from Heart, Hips, and Relationships workshop.

Lust is all things sensual, sense related, second chakra. Love is beyond the senses. As you grow, you don't need to keep trying to keep the sensory experiences alive. This is not to say that if the sensory is still working for you, that you need to put a lid on it! Just keep doing it! Not a problem. But if "the thrill is gone," so what? Does it mean you love each other any less? Don't compare your relationship to someone else's view of what a "good relationship" looks like. Sometimes, you move past needing the sensory to feel successful and alive.

It's like getting attached to asana. Some people will love asana their whole lives. Others won't. No greater than or less than. They are still doing yoga. Still doing Life.

Lust on and on and on if it serves you.
But lust isn't love, and all things sensory can fade.
Thank God love isn't one of those sensory things.