Waking Energy 7 Timeless Practices Designed to Reboot Your Body and Unleash Your Potential

move, and then work up to a more vigorous pace that is quite intense, like real cardiovascular
activity. It will look as though you’re having a temper tantrum on your back! You can then add
your arms, shaking them as well. Once you work your way up to a vigorous pace, maintain it and
know that you are moving stagnant prana out of your body and inviting new energy in. After a few
rounds of breath, stop shaking, hug your knees into your chest, and breathe that buzz of new
energy, the vibrating prana you surely feel into your brain, your heart, and your cells. Let it
nourish and soothe your soul. Then with a substantial open-mouthed exhale, like a lion’s roar, let
it all go!
5. Repeat the steps on the opposite side. Then come into the Child’s Pose.
Sphinx and Seal
Meridian pairs: Lungs and large intestine, heart and small intestine
IN BALANCE: Love, joy
Shadow emotions: Depression, anger
Because of the amount of time we spend hunching over computers and sitting in our cars, we need
back-bending and extension of the spine more than ever. The Sphinx and the Seal (the more intense
variation of Sphinx) restore the curve in our lower backs and invite us to send our healing energy in
to reinvigorate all the tissues and nerves that connect to the spinal column. A flexible spine is a
flexible mind, and although these poses may elicit cranky complaints from your back, they will
ultimately inspire gratitude and appreciation.
1. Lying on your stomach, prop yourself up on your elbows and forearms, keeping them shoulderwidth
apart. Your palms can come down on the floor with your fingers spread wide apart,
slightly in front of your shoulders. Extend your legs long behind you, hip-width apart. Level your
gaze so that you are looking straight ahead. Breathe into your chest and belly and feel your lower
back releasing into the floor. Become a regal Egyptian sphinx—tall, serene, and proud.
2. To experience muscular contrast before we begin, squeeze your buttocks, point your toes, and
draw your navel strongly toward your spine; draw your shoulders actively down and back away
from your ears. Breathe deeply. Then, as you exhale, relax your feet, butt, shoulders, and belly
completely.
3. If you would prefer to try something different with your arms and hands, but still remain upright
on your elbows, you can draw your forearms closer together, bringing your palms to touch in
Prayer Position in front of you so that the pinky fingers lie parallel against the floor.
4. If the Sphinx is an easy position for you to come into, you may want more of a challenge, in
which case you can proceed to the Seal (but know that if you’ve been overzealous in your choice,
you can return to the Sphinx at any time.) The Seal targets the kidney and urinary bladder
meridians as well as the lungs and large intestine and heart and small intestine—a bonus. Move