Move Your Mind: Eagle Pose

Observation, clarity, intuition, and courage

Photo by Elisa Stone on Unsplash

Move Your Mind is a short exercise to start your week in the realm of Yoga Culture’s Yoga & Writing. Sometimes metaphorical, other time scientific, we explore new directions with fun.

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Eagle Pose or Garudasana

Today, I want to focus on just one yoga pose that you may or may not be familiar with. The asana is called Eagle pose, or Garudasana in Sanskrit. I’ve always found this to be a really fun pose: you move into a really twisted up shape, then release. I’ll share how to practice this physically along with modifications and my experience using this pose with writing students and teachers for purpose.

Purpose and symbolic meaning of the pose (not limiting):

• Physical: strength, flexibility (of the mind as well)

• Observant eye of the eagle: intuition, clarity

• Also: courage, independence, calm

• My advice: try it and see how it affects you!

Video - click to see play button if you’re on the app:

Extra notes:

• Clothes that can stretch are useful; no mat or props needed

• Benefits according to yogis (Bikram Yoga)

• (Bald) Eagle as symbol of America (American Eagle Foundation)

• Eagle symbol in literature (University of Michigan)

• Raven and Eagle Totem Poles (National Park Service)

• Music by Daddy_s_Music from Pixabay

Let us know how you feel when you try it! Have a great week.

“The Eagle” by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Poetry Foundation

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