April's Yoga Pose of The Month: Reclining Hero Pose

Supta Virasana, the reclining variation of Virasana, is an intermediate pose. DO NOT perform this pose

unless you can sit your buttocks relatively easily on the floor between your feet.

(soup-tah veer-AHS-anna)
supta = lying down, reclining
vira = man, hero, chief (compare Latin vir, “man,” the root of English words virile and virtue)



Step by Step

Perform Virasana. Exhale and lower your back torso toward the floor. First lean onto your hands, then your forearms and elbows. Once you are on your elbows, place your hands on the back of the pelvis and release your lower back and upper buttocks by spreading the flesh down toward the tailbone. Then finish reclining, either onto the floor or a support.

If your front ribs jut up sharply toward the ceiling, it’s a sign of tight groins, which pulls your front pelvis toward your knees and causes your belly and lower back to tense. Use your hands to press your front ribs down slightly and lift your pubis toward your navel. This should lengthen your lower back and lower it toward the floor. If it doesn’t, raise yourself onto a higher support. Then lay your arms and hands on the floor, angled about 45 degrees from the sides of your torso, palms up.

Sink the heads of the thighbones deep into the back of the hip sockets. It’s alright to lift your knees a little away from the floor to help soften your groins; in fact, you can raise your knees a few inches on a thickly folded blanket. You can also allow a little bit of space between your knees as long as your thighs remain parallel to each other. Do not, however, allow the knees to splay apart wider than your hips – this will cause strain on the hips and lower back.

To begin, stay in this pose for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Gradually extend your stay to 5 minutes. To come out, press your forearms against the floor and come onto your hands. Then use your hands to lift your torso into Virasana. As you come up, lead with your sternum, not your head or chin. Come out of Virasana in the recommended manner.


Benefits

Stretches the abdomen, thighs and deep hip flexors (psoas), knees, and ankles
Strengthens the arches
Relieves tired legs
Improves digestion
Helps relieves the symptoms of menstrual pain


http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/790

Giving Life Ft. Shira of SugarFreeTv

Shira J. was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1982, to African American parents.  At the very young age of three, Shira became interested in entertaining.  The only way in which she could cultivate her art was by joining any musical team or club she could find, so she played cello for 13 years (until age 21), joined the theater department, and joined her high school dance team. 

In school, Shira excelled in her subjects, all with the hopes of becoming a physician.  She hoped only to please the likes of her peers and family with the similar educational background by maintaining normalcy – but Shira was nothing “normal.”

At 24, Shira switched all of her gears and followed her heart, into pursuing a legacy as a “choreographer for the stars” in New York City.  With the many ups and downs of the city hustle lifestyle, Shira endured many triumphs and hardships.

Shira faced homelessness for a brief time when she was 25.  Over a period of five years, she relocated addresses 8 times.  She held many jobs for which she was overqualified in order to maintain her dream, which ironically shifted from “choreographers of the stars” to “star.”

It was when she realized Shira herself was the star that doors began opening.  Shira began receiving phone calls from casting agents at MTV.  She began generating a new income for the career that came easiest to her.  Shira also found creative inspiration and a following simply by being a part of the city which she deemed “new home.”  After choosing to recuperate from a negative situation which jeopardized her abilities to create herself and becoming pregnant, Shira moved back to Ohio.

Shira is currently 30-years-old, and quietly working on other projects during her “off-season,” and will return to New York within the next two years to finish cultivating her dreams.

Check her out on http://www.youtube.com/sugarfreetv Learn more about her new movement vision class https://www.facebook.com/VisionClass 

Weekly:Affirmation of Nature!

I am open to receiving the gifts of nature. I respect and appreciate all the blessings nature has given to me. I observe and protect it to the best of my abilities understanding that it's beauty is an extension of my own spirit. I walk in balance, harmony, and uphold the ancient ways.
~ase

Children: The Builders Of Our Nation

L’DIA MEN-NA’A MUHAMMAD, is a mother of 5 children, and grandmother. Life Path Awakening Empowerment Consultant, with 21 years  experience as "Pre-Birth Parenting" Midwife, Certified Childbirth Wholistic Health Educator/Doula, Certified Massage Therapist/ Wholistic Health Educator, Illustrator, Photographer, and over 12 years experience in Reproductive Health & STD/HIV/SA (substance abuse) Prevention Educator, Teen Abstinence Instructor, Senior Case Manager. As a Pre-Birth Parenting Midwife, & Childbirth Wholistic Health Educator, L’dia Men-Na’a Muhammad, supports parents with information to know how to wholistically pre-birth parent their children, before they are born through understanding “Epigenetics” & “How To Giving Birth To God” as well as after
the child is born by using their date of birth and birth name to provide information on activities, foods, aromatherapy, music therapy, etc..to maintain balance. Visit: FACEBOOK PRE-BIRTH PARENTING GROUP:https://www.facebook.com/groups/whenyouteachawoman/
website: http://healthwealthandromance.com/

Weekly Affirmation: Prosperity

I welcome the energy of prosperity into my life. I am ready and open to receiving this wonderful energy. I release all blockages and obstacles in my path that hinder me from attaining prosperity. I am prosperous. I am abundant. I am in tune with myself and spirit.

~ase

Yoga Pose of The Month January: Bridge Pose

Benefits 

• Strengthens back, glutes, legs and ankles
• Opens chest, heart and hip flexors
• Stretches the chest, neck, shoulders and spine
• Calms the body, alleviates stress and mild depression
• Stimulates organs of the abdomen, lungs and thyroid
• Rejuvenates tired legs
• Improves digestion

Step by Step
Lie supine on the floor, and if necessary, place a thickly folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck. Bend your knees and set your feet on the floor, heels as close to the sitting bones as possible.
Exhale and, pressing your inner feet and arms actively into the floor, push your tailbone upward toward the pubis, firming (but not hardening) the buttocks, and lift the buttocks off the floor. Keep your thighs and inner feet parallel. Clasp the hands below your pelvis and extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders.
Lift your buttocks until the thighs are about parallel to the floor. Keep your knees directly over the heels, but push them forward, away from the hips, and lengthen the tailbone toward the backs of the knees. Lift the pubis toward the navel.
Lift your chin slightly away from the sternum and, firming the shoulder blades against your back, press the top of the sternum toward the chin. Firm the outer arms, broaden the shoulder blades, and try to lift the space between them at the base of the neck (where it's resting on the blanket) up into the torso.
Stay in the pose anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 minute. Release with an exhalation, rolling the spine slowly down onto the floor.

Conversations With The Queen Schedule *Update*

Sept 10 - Adisa "Courage of Rites"

Sept 17 - "The Importance of Healthy Birth In The Black Community" ft Divine Bailey Nicholas
Sept 24 - "Her Passion for Poetry" ft. Jazzy Sdlihc
Oct 1- "The Importance of Marriage" ft. Syif
Oct 8 - India Camiel Raw Food Chef
Oct 15 - Lousie Powell - "Black Parenting: Guide to Raising Children"
Oct 22 - *Special Guest*
Oct 29 - Ptah Tahuti Ra

Courage: Warriors Rites of Passage Ft. Adisa El

Adisa El (Adisa Heru-Tehuty Hannib-El) Founder of I Am Courage: Warriors Rites of Passage, Kupigana Ngumi/Martial Arts rites of passage program for all age groups. Founded in 2006 to live and provide a greater access to martial arts training in Adisa’s life, greater access for his community and for people in general who don’t have access or are learning martial arts ``outside themselves``. I Am Courage is a platform medium that promotes the development and nourishment of the action of Courage, which is necessary to have to achieve all and any virtue in life including healing, healthy lifestyles, and from self-development to community development via a rites of passage process.  Adisa is a 3^rd generation martial artist, 1^st degree Black Belt and holds ranks and experience in several arts, he is a trained Afrikan/Moorish Holistic Health practitioner, Reiki Master, Entrepreneur, Actor, Artist Manager, Martial Arts Instructor, Writer and Mentor, Motivational Speaker. Along with those before him who started the Kupigana Ngumi movement, noticed the lack of “our martial art” presence and cultural expression in their communities, as Capoeira is in Brazil, and Salsa is in Cuba. So they through their own efforts developed and introduced martial arts training and schooling to their peers and communities and “I Am Courage” is Adisa`s own efforts for his community in the territory in which he resides. He also serves on the M.U.F.T.I./Vanguard Enforcement and Security as the Grand Mufti/Vanguard in Canaanland/Kanaanta (Canada) of the Moorish Divine and National Movement of the World. He supports and works with various organizations active in the true upliftment of the quality of life among his people and all of humanity. “I Am Courage” has been traveling performing, doing workshops and lectures in schools, programs, festivals, etc. throughout the country and receiving independent film roles. ``We Will Find A Way, or Make One`` - I Am Courage, Salute!

Website: IAmCourage.webs.com

Facebook Group: I Am Courage

Next Monday on Conversations With The Queen we are proud to announce the appearance of our special guest Adisa El the founder of Courage: Warriors Rites of Passage. A powerful group that is dedicated toward reigniting the principle of rites

 of passage in our communities. This will be a powerful show! Tune in @9pm Est the call in number is 917 932 8881 or listen viahttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/poeticenergynetworkstation/2012/09/11/conversations-with-the-queen

Tahir aka The Pryamid Kid

Next Monday on Conversations With The Queen will be having a very special musical guest Brother Tahir Rbg. If you love soulful music that has a conscious message this is the show for you. Tune in and enjoy yourself and support independent music! The call in number 1917 932 8881 or chat through http://www.blogtalkradio.com/poeticenergynetworkstation/2012/08/21/conversations-with-the-queen

Gemstone Therapy With Dr. Khailfani Rivers

Conversations With The Queen is excited to bring to you Dr. Khalfani Rivers. With years of experience as a master astrologer, herbal physician, and all around metaphysian, Dr Khailfani will provide expert advice on the subject of gemstone/crystal therapy. He will also be providing free mini readings! So will be a show you do NOT want to miss! The call in number is 917 932 8881 and you can listen via  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/


poeticenergynetworkstation/

2012/08/14/
conversations-with-the-queen

Affirmation For Peace & Positive Energy

In this moment I focus solely on the highest good and best out comes I call on my angels, ancestors, and guides to remove all negative energies & entities from my space. I am at peace with in myself & in my home.
~ashe