Cartwheels and Push-ups, anyone?

Last Friday, I was to “just pick a post, and race to it. Race through a field, around a bush, or under a bridge.” Those of us who are participating in the current BES program know what I’m talking about. We were told to simply “use speed, and play” that day.

As I walked some friends, who had been visiting, to the door; I darted to the front yard and did a cartwheel. All four children followed suit. Well, the almost 2-year-old gymnast needed a little assistance, but her body language certainly showed she was up for the fun, too. Her siblings, 13, 8 and 5, instantly followed my lead. We had cartwheels coming from every direction. “Did she used to be a cheerleader?” the children’s dad asked my husband about me.

I just love to do cartwheels — always have and probably always will. I’m counting on yoga and raw food to help me be able to do this for years to come.

I’m known to just run and do a cartwheel at the drop of dime. So, I understand why this sentence “While most mums and dads at this children’s party were relaxing on garden chairs sipping wine, I was performing cartwheels across the lawn” in this article made me smile. I can totally see me doing that. Wait, I have done that. Maybe it wasn’t wine that the other parents were sipping….but….in any event, I’ve been known to immediately connect with the energy of children via cartwheels.

Trikonasana, the “Triangle” yoga posture (demonstrated here), reminds me of aligning the body in preparation for a cartwheel. According to Essential Yoga by Olivia H. Miller: “A triangle is a geometric form that embodies strength, balance, and support. This ancient posture, which replicates the innate stability of a triangle, improves flexibility of the torso, elongates and straightens the spine, opens the hip area, and strengthens the arms, legs, ankles, and feet. Concentrate on holding the pose in stillness while you breathe deeply and rhythmically. Feel the solidity and strength of the triangle fill your entire being and rest firmly in the knowledge that nothing can shake the solid foundation that is your core.”

Last week, BES participants were also told to “remember to practice your push-ups. It doesn’t matter which version you’ve been doing, just stop, I mean, why not do some RIGHT NOW, just do as many push-ups as you can, and then you can always go and do more later.”

So, my version?

My favorite push-up is not at all the ones we typically know of! During a yoga Sun Salutation, I enjoy this as my version:

• Positioning my body in plank
• Lowering to the ground in a non-modified fashion, maintaining a full plank (or push-up) position
• Hovering in plank before letting my body rest on the ground
• Pushing up to cobra
• Lowering my head and then pushing up to Downward Facing Dog

Yoga Instructor, Christina Forth, beautifully shows us this here! Take a look! Now, that’s the type of push-up I like! Why don’t you try it and tell me what type of push-up you enjoy!

Happy Cartwheeling and Pushing Up!

In the Joy of Movement,

Penny

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