Have you ever planned a class and felt you were windmilling your way up and down and back and forth between poses and it just felt like it was smooth flowing? If so, I found a great Chinese Proverb for you!
When the winds of change blow, some people build walls while others build windmills.
Windmill or Cartwheel is a fun way to rise up into to Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II) and down to High Plank (Phalakasana). But we usually only windmill twice during the flow. You can continue to switch the arm movements and shift energy throughout your sequence.
The Sequence: Windmill to Warrior II, lean back into Floating Side Lunge / High Skandasana, float back to Warrior II, Reverse Warrior, Straighten leg into Reverse Triangle. Windmill arms and lean into Triangle. Pull up back to Warrior II. Windmill arms back down & step back into 3 Leg Plank Pose.
Add on: starting from Downward Facing Dog, step up and out into Lizard. Drop back knee to Half Lizard ground hand and open chest to twist to the bent knee for Twisted Lizard, or windmill the arm up and back for Lounging Lizard / Horizon. Step back to 3 Legged Dog and start the flow again.
Fun Peak Poses to add to this sequence with arm and leg long: Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose and/or Baby Grasshopper.
Share the proverb at the end of class: When the winds of change blow, some people build walls while others build windmills.
Ask a simple question: Do you feel flexible adaptable and open to change?
Asking questions is a great way for us to invite students into Swadhyaya, analyzing one’s thoughts and actions for the purpose of non-judgemental self-study. Swadhyaya is the fourth Niyama.
I hope you enjoy adding your own variations, tone, and fun into this yoga theme, Winds of Change.