In the photo above, you can see me and @marapanacci in dancers pose. I've had so much fun contributing to the creation of her Yoga Renegade Yoga Teacher Training Manual. Stay tuned because we're both sure that this is only the beginning of blending Ocean Yoga and Yoga Renegade. Here is an excerpt from the posture descriptions I wrote for the @yogarenegade yoga teacher training manual. Photo- left- by Katie Mckay @goodeyemckay Photo- right - by Rena Thomas Dancer's Pose / Nataranjasana Dancer's Pose derives its name from Shiva Nataraja, the King of the Dance. Shiva is one of the main gods in the Hindu pantheon. When he is depicted as a dancer, he is shown at the center of the ring of reincarnation (also known as the wheel of Samsara). Shiva dances through the endless cycles of death, life, birth, and rebirth. His dance is one of creation and destruction. In Dancer's Pose, we discover the strength of our foundations and at the same time, we explore the flexibility of our upper body. There is a playfulness between grounding down into the earth with the legs and rising up into the backward bend through the chest and abdomen. We are called to be simultaneously graceful and steady. Benefits: - Improves balance - Improves concentration - Stretches the standing leg - Stretches the hip and thigh of the other leg (the leg you are lifting up) - Therapeutic for fallen arch or plantar fasciitis by strengthening the arch of the standing foot - Stretches the abdomen and chest - An energizing backward bend - Releases tension in the spine by compressing the low back Contraindications: - Menstruation - Avoid Dancer's Pose during the postpartum period when bleeding - Insomnia or sleeplessness - Issues with balance (from stroke, brain injury, vertigo, or dizziness): use a wall for support #oceanyoga #oceanyogans #oceanyoganovascotia #yogarenegade #dancer #dancerspose #natarajasana #shiva #ytt #yogateachertraining #yogateachertrainingmanual #yttmanual https://www.instagram.com/p/7qZBw7vV6w8bYol38iHHr3kayUSJWMr2n5SyE0/?igshid=1qbsnsau9qpnj