The zodiac dates for Gemini season begins May 21st and ends June 20th. When this season is upon us it's time to whip out the yoga mat and ruminate on how the Gemini is duplicitous, fun, and dramatic. Everyone needs a Gemini in their life to keep their energy high and fresh. Read this article to understand the Gemini sign and how downward facing dog yoga pose celebrates the unique traits of these vivacious air element people.
Downward facing dog is a pose that for some people is a challenge, and for others is a resting pose. It is typically done throughout a full yoga practice and is usually the first full body stretch introduced in a yoga class. This is a gentle inversion and ignites strong lines of energy through the hands and down the feet. It stabilizes the pelvis and strengthens the back muscles. To come into this pose,
Begin on hands and knees.
Straighten the legs and press the chest towards the knees so that you look like an inverted “V” shape.
Roll the upper shoulders away from the midline body and the wrists rotated inward while pressing firmly in the palms and finger pads.
For a more in- depth description of this pose and its proper structure, click here.
Geminis and the canine dog are very similar beings. Both are talkative/barkative (sometimes even when no one wants to hear it), both have high levels of energy, and both will stop everything to go play. Geminis can bring out their inner playful pup with this classic asana. When holding this pose the heart reaches for the knees and tailbone tips up. This resembles what an actual dog looks like when they are literally stretching.
Geminis can play/explore a lot in this posture, from taking the legs wide, rhythmically flowing from plank to down dog, or just shifting the heals from left to right. Geminis value spontaneity and dislike being tied down by rigid routines. They prefer a flexible and adaptable lifestyle that allows them to embrace new experiences and make the most of each moment. Their ability to go with the flow and embrace unexpected situations adds an element of playfulness to their lives. This is a fun full body posture that the canine in Geminis can really be themselves in. Geminis especially relate to the dog as they are both very inquisitive animals. Geminis have a natural curiosity about the world around them. They love to explore new ideas, hobbies, and experiences. This sense of curiosity fuels their playfulness as they are constantly seeking novelty and intellectual stimulation. Geminis are thirsty for knowledge and always sniffing through a mental mystery, just like dogs always following their noses and ears to take on the role of detective.
There is a tale this pose references in Jatakas where the matters of justice were proven by a dog. In the story the king of Varanasi decided to kill all the dogs in the kingdom except for the royal dog. One day the king came to find the leather of his chariot was bitten, chewed, and torn. Angered, the King found the first dog in site and sent them to certain death. An accused street dog courageously protested and asked the king how he didn’t know if it was not the dog from the royal palace who chewed the leather. The king forced the royal dog to vomit and out came the leather from the king’s chariot. It was later found out that the street dog accused was a reincarnated buddha to be born. Buddha is the emblem of knowledge and Geminis will see their core wisdom arise when aligning with the dog totem.
Downward Facing dog demonstrates and highlights the playfulness of the Gemini, and reminds us that not all truth is seen on the surface, so we should be patient and thorough when seeking answers. Thank you so much for checking out this blog post! Make sure to send it to all your Gemini people and check out some of my other blogs here to gain better insight as to which yoga postures best fit your zodiac sun sign. You can also find my full 200 page ebook that goes into detailed explanations for each zodiac sign here.
See you back here soon! Shanti, shanti, shanti. Peace in your life.
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