WEDDING YOGA: For You and Your Squad (part 1)

Doing yoga with friends allows for better connection, support, and keeps your ego in check. Just what you need as you prepare for your wedding day. I mean we want to be Zen brides and grooms, right? A yoga session can certainly be a great workout. However, I make sure to allow time for introspection — with focus on the root & crown chakras — so my grooms, brides and their squads don’t get distracted with comparison and competition.

Benefits of Practicing Yoga with Your Friends or Family

Support

Most people practice yoga on their own. They take time for themselves and enjoy some inner reflection. However, there is something magical about the support of another person, especially a trusted friend. A friend who has supported you throughout the engagement period. A family member who believes you can do more and can be more. A friend from childhood who shares your sense of accomplishment when you do well. And sometimes all you need is just to know that you are not alone. Someone else whose thighs are also shaking as you sink a little lower in Warrior II. And as you celebrate your transition into married life, someone to laugh beside you as you play with a pose that may be new to you.

Connection

Yoga is all about connection. Connecting your mind to your body. Your identity to your potential. Doing something physical AND spiritual, like a mindful yoga practice, adds another dimension to the relationship with those closest to you. You see a different side of the person, you see them grow, and you allow them to see you work. As you practice you discover your strengths and weaknesses and breathe through them. Working through your vulnerabilities next to someone and growing with them, builds a sense of connection. It also allows for parallel vulnerability and growth in your relationship. In a literal sense, you also connect physically, as I always add partner poses to my wedding yoga group practices You breathe in-sync and your breath mingles, your move in-sync and your space becomes connected.

Focus on Root & Crown Chakras

As I create a custom class for a bride, groom or wedding couple, I first ask what you want. Something more rigorous before your bachelorette party? A more meditative practice on the morning of the wedding? Either way, I like to focus the group session around the root and crown chakras. There are 7 energy centers or chakras in the body. The root chakra (or Muladhara in Sanskrit) is the first and the crown chakra (or Sahasrara in Sanskrit) is the 7th.

The Root Chakra

Located at the base of the spine, the pelvic floor, and the first three vertebrae, the root chakra is responsible for your sense of safety and security. The word Muladhara breaks down into two Sanskrit words: Mula meaning “root” and Adhara, which means “support” or “base.”

The root chakra is related to our primal instincts. In order to grow and develop, we must first feel grounded. Balancing the root chakra, will offer a solid foundation on which to build. Like building a foundation to start your marriage! Therefore we play with yoga poses that help ground our energy so that we feel strong, stable and ready to face our fears and doubts. A balanced root chakra can bring with it emotional stability, contentment, inner peace and the ability to cope with whatever challenges life throws our way. 

The Crown Chakra

The seventh chakra, Sahasrara, is located at the crown of the head. The Sanskrit name translates to “thousand petals.” This chakra is termed so because it is said to be in the form of a lotus flower with 1,000 petals. The gift of this chakra is all about experiencing unity and the selfless realization that everything is connected at a fundamental level. Perfect for celebrating your union with your partner and the strong relationships around you.

The crown chakra is responsible for the transcendence of your limitations. Balancing this chakra with yoga & meditation allows access to utmost clarity and enlightened wisdom. Two things that are very much needed as your step into your new role as you enter into marriage.

In part 2 of the series, I will discuss specific poses (or asana) that open and balance these chakras - and are a lot of fun to do with those closest to you. In the meantime, if you have any questions or have something to share, the comment section is open below. Namaste.