Why You Should Do Sun Salutations Before Making Any Strategic Decision

I was about five months into my yoga practice when it dawned on me: we should do sun salutations before we make any strategic decision.

Here's why:

-- Backbend: looking behind, considering our experience.

-- Forward fold: experience the freedom and flexibility we need to make new choices

-- Flat back: gaze on the horizon, looking towards the goal

-- Foward fold, again: once again, reinforcing the flexibility to approach the situation in a new way

-- Step it back: high plank. Position of strength. Need I say more?

-- Up Dog: opening the heart to new possibilities.

-- Down Dog: Firmly rooted in reality, from every limb.

-- Mix it up. Need some strength? Go into some warrior poses. Lunges, warrior 1 and 2, etc. My favorite is to step back into high plank and then flip in and out of Sage Pose a few times (aka side plank) and see how wise you feel when your arms are burning. In any event, put in the moves you need to accomplish your goal.

-- Back to foward fold. Earth touch. Firmy rooted in the earth, flexible and loose.

-- Round up to another backbend: considering what we've learned.

-- Conscious mountain: receiving our lesson.

At least, that's how we do it at my studio, here in a little suburb of Philadelphia.