Virabhadrasana 1\Warrior 1
Benefits: Strengthens the legs, opens the hips and chest, and stretches the arms and legs. It develops concentration and balance, improves circulation and respiration, and energizes the entire body. Warrior 1 also helps generate a sense of confidence in oneself.
This pose is named after the fierce warrior in Hindu mythology, Virabhadra. Virabhadra is an incarnation of Lord Shiva, and is described as having a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, and a thousand feet; wielding a thousand clubs; and wearing a tiger skin. Wow! Fierce for sure!
But warriors need not only be fierce, they must also be graceful, aware, persistent, courageous, and willing to look deep within to access their "reserves". In order to maintain a somewhat consistent yoga practice, one must possess all these traits. In order to show up on ones mat, and challenge the mental and physical constructs we create; and to believe that in doing so, not only will we benefit, but those around us will benefit as well, requires the traits of a warrior. To step into each day vowing to be present and available for Love, to not take the easy convenient ways all the time, but instead, make difficult choices, and live as consciously as possible, definitely requires one to be like a warrior.
"Who has the guts to be a spiritual warrior? Who has the courage to see past the illusions of the ego, lay down his literal and figurative arms, raise his spiritual consciousness, and deal with the world with Grace, with Love? Who has the wisdom and strength to see and know that absolutely everything is the Divine?" (taken from the Bhagavad Gita).
So, it is through examining Virabhadrasana that we challenge ourselves to live the life of spiritual warriors, and to approach each and every person and situation as if the Divine were right there next to us. How will our lives and the lives of those around us change if we act and respond first and foremost, from a place of honest Love? Can we let go of the dualistic nature of ourselves, and embrace the interconnectedness of us all? Can we honor the Divine inside ourselves, and more importantly, hold that each of us IS the Divine?
Om Shanti--wishing you all peace.
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