Until recently, I had no idea how to undertake the fish.
You know, the yogic Fish Pose.
Over the years, I’ve gotten better at Down Dog and the Plank, and strong enough to accomplish shoulder stands and to hold an Up Dog for five minutes.
But my past yoga teachers never taught Fish Pose.
When I moved from California (some say, “the” yoga state) to New England, I discovered a slow gentle yoga class that I was rather disdainful of at first. I was way beyond needing “gentle.” After all, my mornings started with four sun salutations before the sun even rose.
But this wise yoga teacher just smiled as he suggested a lunge and then encouraged us to hold it for three minutes. Easy peasy I thought after one minute. Two minutes later, I wanted to crumble and weep, realizing my frailty and weakness.
But through slow breathing, meditative silences, and long poses, my body became stronger than ever.
Then the yogi introduced Fish Pose for the end of the yogic practice.
Huh? We moved onto our backs in the corpse pose, then rolled our shoulders tight behind our upper back while turning our chins up to the ceiling, top of the scalp on the floor.
Surprisingly, this felt good.
But then came the hard part. The teacher suggested that in this position with our hearts lifted, we send our energy and love and thoughts to someone in need.
I sent out my love to my son, on the other coast, who I knew was having a tough month. Weird, but after a few minutes in Fish Pose, it seemed perfectly reasonable.
We ended the session with an Ommm, and I left the studio feeling like a rubber band.
In a good way.
I sank into the front seat of my car, knowing I needed to return to the world of deadlines and errands, when suddenly my cell phone rang. I wanted to ignore it, still savoring the peace, but peered down at the caller’s name.
My son.
He never called this time of day.
“Hello?” I said, heart racing, wondering if there was a problem.
“Hey, Mom. Just wanted to touch base.”
Before stopping myself, I shouted, “Because of The Fish!”
Silence. Whoops.
But then he just laughed without asking me what the heck I was talking about. At this juncture in our mother-son relationship, he seemed to deem it better to not ask.
But we had a great conversation.
Silently, I gave thanks to The Fish.
Fish and yoga images thanks to Pinterest.
Sometimes I swear telepathy is real!
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I’ve had too many experiences to NOT believe that telepathy is real.
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The power of yoga! Great post :O)
The first time I tried fish pose I cried a little bit and then laughed out loud – it seems to release so much!
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Yes, the release from Fish Pose is emotional, and perhaps that’s why it opens us up so much!
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I love this post. Given that yoga has often “saved me” and definitely inspired me, I totally relate to this post. Fish pose is a tough one, for sure. Yet, it does feel good, but it’s not easy to get into or out of. (Usually that tells me I need to do it more often, and then lo and behold, things ease up).
Recently, after years of power type yoga I have come to really love slow yoga and yin yoga. Holding poses as you write, is not at all easy. But it is in the holding that the deepest of tissue eventually relaxes and stretches out.
Love the phone all. Sounds familar.
Namaste,
Peta
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I’ve had reason for physical therapy recently (for my concussion) and when the therapist makes me hold neck stretches for 30 seconds and more, she explains that it’s been found it takes at least that long to release a muscle, let it loosen, stretch out as you say. So now I use the 30-second count even for the poses I used to do quickly. Fascinating response in the body. Slowing down – a challenge mentally and physically, but well worth the…. STRETCH. 🙂 Now, I hope sometime you’ll write a blog post about how yoga has ‘saved’ you. ❤
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Wonderful post Pam, so strong and positive. I love the story of you and
your son, I can imagine his bewilderment at your question. Wise guy not to
ask. 😊 . I never came across the Fish pose but will with care try it out at home.
xo
Miriam
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Careful with the fish pose – and not until toward the end of your practice, when all of your body has been stretched. Then, gently. Gently. Hope you enjoy!
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Aw…what a great story, Pam. I bet you do the Fish pose each day now!
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You know the expression “be careful what you wish for,” Jill? Well, when doing the Fish Pose, be careful who you ask to connect with! 🙂 Just kidding, but it does take emotional effort, so once a day would be too much for me!
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What a lovely story of connection, Pam. I’d say you are nailing the ‘gentle’ yoga scene!
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You know the challenge we’ve undertaken to be gentle with our brains as we recover from a concussion? Gentle yoga is a similar challenge to not rush the practice/poses and just take it slowly. Hope you’re having a slow relaxing healthy weekend! xo
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A lovely way to meet the morning. Thanks Pam.
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Ahhh, thanks for joining me in my morning yogic Fish, Janet. ❤
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Great story, Pam! It makes me want to get back to doing yoga–not that I’ve ever done it regularly.
Whenever I call a friend of mine, or she calls me, it always begins with “I was just about to call you!”
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I love those kind of connections, Merril. Who needs a phone? Just ‘call in’ a ‘hello thinking of you’ in your mind! I think that you’d love the Fish Pose and end up getting lots of calls from your friends. xo
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🙂
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Ahh… I love how your son called after your thoughts and heart reached out to him – the power of our energies is unfathomable. He knows you too well not to ask about the mysterious Fish comment and glad you had a fulfilling catch-up. Yoga can be deceptive and the slow and seemingly easy classes are often the toughest and as to this pose, yikes, seems tricky! I’m just trying to imagine how to swallow. Wishing you a lovely weekend, Pam. hugs xx❤️
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You left me with a huge chuckle at the end of your comment, Annika. For some reason, swallowing is fine. But the yoga teacher doesn’t have us hold the Fish Pose as long as others – perhaps that’s why! 🙂
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As always, you warm my heart.
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Namaste, Arlene. ❤
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Woke to this writing piece – loved it!
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So glad you enjoyed, Karen. Knowing you, you probably laughed too. 🙂
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That’s a great story and I’m sure the call was connected to your yoga pose! I love when that kind of thing happens. I may have to take up yoga so I can hear from my kids more!
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You made me laugh out loud with your comment, Barbara. Yes, when we want to hear from our kids, just lie down on the floor into Fish Pose. Who KNOWS what may happen! 🙂 xo
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Haha! So the other day after I read your post I was thinking about how at that moment I missed my son who is off at college and a couple minutes later he sent me a text with his picture! I think there’s something to that kind of energy!
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Seeeeeeeeee??? ❤
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Yup! 😀
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Cool story, Pam!
We. Are. Connected.
At the source.
Where it counts.
Omm . . .
Mom . . . .
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We are all SO connected. If only more people realized that – and perhaps tried out Fish Pose. You blew me away with your last lines — Omm with switched letters makes MOM. ❤
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Yoga is on my list of things to try. Sometimes what seems simple is really best.
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The older I get, the more I realize simple is best.
I hope you do try yoga – but the teacher makes a difference. Don’t go to one of those classes that makes yoga into a physical hard-paced challenge. It IS a challenge, but it should be a slow steady “feel-good” one.
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Yoga, including the fish pose, has kept me sane for the last 30 years. Gone are the days of headstands and other difficult poses but I still enjoy my gentle yoga.
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I’m not surprised to learn that you’re “into” yoga, Gerlinde. I appreciate your comment about how it keeps you sane – so true for me too. Ah, back in the headstand days – mine ended when I fell and broke my toe (I know, that sounds impossible). Slow and gentle releases me much better now. 🙂
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You poor thing, that’s bad! Do you remember a famous yoga teacher named Judith Lasater that teaches Restorative Yoga classes . I think she still teaches, her classes are pure bliss. You lay on blankets and pillows for an hour.
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I don’t know Judith Lasater, but I’ve taken Restorative Yoga and then floated out of the class, vowing to return. Haven’t taken one of those in a while thought. I think it’s time!
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I got a chuckle out of this because if I said fish pose to my son he would know exactly what I was talking about. It’s his business along with meditation. I also like that both of our sons like to check in. A great story to start the weekend off with a smile.
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And YOU, Cheryl? Do you follow your son as he leads a yoga class? I think that would be SO terrific! Ommmmm. ❤
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Fun story Pam. I guess in this case the fish captured the fisherman. 🙂
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Love your yogic humor, Brad. 🙂
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And yours. 🙂
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The power of the mind over the body. I love that connectivity across the miles. It sounds like a reaction my son has had to my comments on more than one occasion. Best not to ask. 🙂
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My son is into the “here and now” as he would say. None of this “whoo whoo” stuff. And yet, he has an old soul that one of these days he’ll connect to; otherwise my Fish signal wouldn’t have reached him! 🙂
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Oaky, I guess I’ll have to insert my ‘expected response’: this all seems rather ‘fishy’ to me! ♥♥♥
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A yogic pun, Billy Ray. And it doesn’t ‘stink” (another fish pun). 🙂
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♥♥♥
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I did Yin Yoga in Vancouver and learned to love it. Just what I needed during a stressful part of my life. We didn’t do the fish pose but it looks like it would be a good one, once mastered. Love the fact that your son called you just after you sent the “message”. But I was not surprised. Sending warm yoga hugs. xo
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After my son’s phone call (I talked to him while I was still in the parking lot of the yoga studio) I ran back into the studio to tell the teacher. He was elated for me, but not surprised either. Namaste, my friend.
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Lovely moments of yoga, so well connected with the vibes we send out. Positivity at its best! 🙂
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Yes, so true Balroop. And we stretch our connectivity here in our blogosphere. More positivity!
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Hi, Pam – This post brought shivers to my spine. There is so much in life that we simply can’t explain!
I regularly practice yoga, but have never attempted The Fish. It is now on my list!
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Let me know how you like Fish Pose. It’s really not difficult (but best to do once you’re toward the end of your practice and all stretched out). Hope you enjoy the peaceful feeling the pose evokes. ❤
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A great post, Pam. The power of thought. I do Pilates and find some of the exercises very tough.
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Pilates is SO good for the core. Like you, I find many of the poses difficult and prefer yoga, perhaps because I started with that practice so young and have followed it throughout the years. Namaste, Robbie.
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Never mind the awesome telepathy, Pam—what I admire is your agility 🙂 Good for you!
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Haha, Judee. This is what Ill admit to; perhaps not agility, but because of yoga, I’m much more flexible than I’d be without it. 🙂
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Great story, Pamela.
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To stretching our mind and body every day, John. ❤
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Your memes and stories are impossible to not love. (How’s that for convolution!)
I’m learning head stands in Pilates, sort of like the fish pose.
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Yikes! Head stands in Pilates sounds MUCH more challenging than the Fish in yoga. Kudos to you, Marian. Pilates is so terrific for the core. You’ve inspired me – I’m off to do a plank…. for more than 30 seconds. Yikes! 🙂
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Glad you got to connect with your son, Pam. I’ve never tried Fish pose, but one of these days maybe I’ll give it a try. I’ve rediscovered yoga after a couple months away from it. Wonderful story! There are so many things we don’t understand that connect us.
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Hope you enjoy the luscious stretch as you return to yoga, Amy. I’ve practiced many places, but of course one of my favorites is on the beach in Hawaii as the sun rises. Alooooooha!
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Enjoyed your post. It felt very much like a meditation. I do a variety of yoga techniques. The best gift you can give yourself. Someone mentioned telepathy. We are energetic beings and if we are open to receiving, we do.
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I love knowing you’re a yoga practitioner, Patricia. I wonder what your favorite pose is. You’re so right – yoga is a gift we give to our bodies AND our minds. Yoga and meditation help us be open to receiving the energy of others, I do believe.
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Ive often wanted to try yoga… but I’d need the “before the beginners for those who don’t bend well” class. The fish would probably kill me.
Nice he told your son to call though. Well done fish!
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I must disagree here, rivergirl (love your blog, by the way, and your “introduction”). ANYONE can ‘do’ yoga. Just don’t get a teacher who’s 20 and thinks yoga is aerobatics. It’s the opposite. I go to a yoga class that includes a flexible 30-something, an amazing-for-her-age 80-year-old woman, and an overweight 50-year-old man. We all stretch how we can, ommm with smiles, and yes, become more flexible. 🙂
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What a wonderful story and experience and coincidence! I love this kind of stuff. Being one with the universe.
I tried yoga a few times in the past, but never managed to stick with it longer than a few months. Some poses (and fish pose is one of them) make me feel uncomfortable. Yes, I realize that if I practice a lot, it starts feeling better (I have experienced that myself) and I have also felt the positive effects of yoga, but the situation has to be right to get into a schedule. As we are living in a camper right now, it’s never going to happen again. I do still carry my yoga mat around, though, just in case. 🙂
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But I can see you eventually learning to LOVE yoga. Yes, finding a yoga teacher you can trust and a once-a-week-at-least class does help. I practice often from the comfort of my home (with mat), but not sure if you have room in your camper for a sun salutation. But you can be a Warrior in that pose, and stretch with the triangle, and goddess pose – ohhh, you would LOVE the goddess pose. 🙂
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I learn about some of the best things from the blogs that I follow. I have been wanting to “do yoga” for a long time. Just maybe this will give me the impetus to join a class for older people.
‘In your case you fished with your thoughts and reeled in a big fish in the form of a call from your son. My goodness I can not think of a better fishing trip, also known as, the fish pose in your yoga class.
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Yvonne, I can see you LOVING a yoga class. Most classes accommodate all ages – just ask for a ‘gentle’ class. I love how yoga is non-competitive. Each person stretches to her own inner — muscles. 🙂 Now, go fish! xo
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Lovely post, Pam. I’m still figuring out how to do The Fish, And, I know the downward dog, what’s the upward dog?
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The upward dog is like the opposite stretch to the downward dog. You’re on the mat on your stomach, legs stretched behind you, hands on your shoulder level on the ground. Then you just lift up your chest using your arm muscles, keeping legs stretched behind you, and feel the delicious stretch.
https://yogainternational.com/article/view/upward-facing-dog Let me know how it goes! xo
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I love that, Pam! The Universe is listening. Always.
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ALWAYS. ❤
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What a great post, but…doesn’t that pose,um, hurt after a while??
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I only stay in Fish Pose until I’ve connected with someone – like my son. Haha. Just about half a minute. Amazingly, the chest opener feels terrific. Great for those of us who are hunched over a computer too long!!! (hint hint) xo
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lmao – hint taken but I don’t think my back bends that way any more!
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hehehe! Those of us with sons know that feeling. Sometimes I can practically hear the single raised eyebrow on the other end of the line 😆
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You know EXACTLY what I’m talkin’ about, Joanne. I tend to ignore the raised eyebrow and eyeroll. One of these days maybe our “boys” will “see the light. 😉
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😁
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Love this, Pam. Having strong connections with our children, telepathic or otherwise, is a blessing.
And now I have a strong desire to do yoga! 🙂
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You will LOVE the pull and stretch and mind-bending benefits of yoga, Jennifer. I just know you will. xo
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I used to practice yoga but have lapsed for months now. I loved it and plan to get back to this fall. xo
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I know a lot of parents who have intuition when it comes to our kids.. I have it with my daughter also. I almost always know when something is wrong before she calls me.
I am not familiar with the Fish pose but it has been several years since I have done Yoga.
Hope you are having a wonderful first day of Fall Pamela.. Nameste’ ❤
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My daughter actually gets a little freaked out when I call just when she needs me. Usually to vent, but that’s okay. That’s what we moms are here for, right? Happy Fall to you my friend. Namaste.
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What a beautiful confirmation Pamela. I love yoga especially in winter when the garden is resting. I must ask our teacher to demonstrate the fish pose. 🌼
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Let me know if the teacher knows Fish Pose and takes you ‘there.’ Restful, peaceful, and opening you up to connections. xo
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Perfect. 🌼
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As a Piscean I’m well aware of the power of the fish! Not an obvious power animal but Pisceans are known for their psychic powers, so there must be something in it 🙂
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As a fellow Piscean, I agree that YES, we are given those special powers if we just open our hearts (and gills) to them. Namaste and ❤
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Although I usually am pretty skeptical about these things, I also realize that some things just can’t be explained with simple logic. In other words, this doesn’t sound like carp to me (sorry, couldn’t resist).
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Laughing. You are absolutely right – this is NOT carp! xo
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Lovely Pamela, loving energy is felt. I will try ‘the Fish’…..xX ❤
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Oh, being who you are, I think you’ll get some true benefits from Fish Pose, Jane. Namaste and Happy Fall.
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Isn’t it amazing what our minds and hearts can do when we’re still and focused? I will give the fish pose a try myself. Thanks!
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We’re always told that we can do so much more with an open heart and mind. From experiences like this one here, I totally agree. Enjoy the Fish. xo
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Telepathy and ESP are real rare things.
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I wish telepathy/intuition/ESP weren’t so rare. But then again, knowing what a person is thinking/feeling isn’t always easy. :-0 Thanks for your comment, Luanne.
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I am actually not sure if I would want the experience more often!
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I know…perhaps that’s why we’re not given the experience that often. ;–0
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You brought tears to my eyes, Pam. I am here (in the yoga state LOL) and yes, I love my yoga classes. The breakthroughs that come with particular yoga poses always shock me. I love this pose, and have had some extraordinary moments myself, but nothing would be more meaningful to me than if it was a connection with one of my children. The best reason to value yoga as a regular practice, is the opening up to connection, which manifests in a variety of ways. I think your experience is just the best, Pam. Love it!
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Ahhh, from one yoga lover to another, from the “right” state (MA) to the left (CA), Namaste and Love to you, Debra.
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So this is what everyone is talking about. The Fish and all those other crazy yoga poses. I got used to karate’s weird names (the Crane). Now all these.Yikes!
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Welll, the true yogic term for Fish Pose is Matsyasana, but I think just saying Fish is easier. So, what? You don’t think Lucy and her friends did any yoga ‘back then’? 🙂 I’m enjoying your book immensely, and learning a lot!
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I really do need to try yoga..:)
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The men I know who have tried yoga are believers now, George. Go for it!
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I think I might..especially since I just pulled a calf muscle at the gym and I’m limping around..:)
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Ack! Yes, yoga makes those muscles more flexible, so if you start a yoga practice, you’ll be less likely to pull a muscle. Truly!
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Cool. I only ever hear good things about yoga. I think the corpse pose and the sitting on my ass pose would be my strong points.
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haha. And from both, believe it or not, you’ll get great benefits, Roy. Namaste.
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I’m more of a t’ai chi person but I yoga if all else fails. And it sometimes does. 🙂 🙂 I need some good vibes for my son.
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T’ai chi is on my list to practice more consistently. I tried a class when I was in Hawaii two years ago. I was the only ‘student’ who turned up (it was an 8 a.m. class – on the beach). For some reason the slow-movement, which needed complete concentration even while we’re supposed to be relaxed, created a huge emotional response in me. Maybe that’s normal??? (I hope so). 😉
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I think it’s very different from many of the physical activities I’ve tried. I’ve been going twice a week for 10 years or more, and will miss it (and the people) in the Algarve. I haven’t managed to find a class there yet. And what’s normal, Pam? I’m not looking too hard for it. 🙂
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🙂 I lost normal a long time ago. xo
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What a beautiful experience, Pam!! And I´m sure your son felt the energy and love you´ve sent him even though he might not believe in the Fish. 😉 And what a handsome young man he is! I´ve tried yoga once but it was a total disaster! Went to Tai Chi instead which was just perfect for me. Now I think the first experience might have been based on the teacher, I´ve heard it really depends, and I would like to give it another go. Happy weekend! ❤
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As in lessons of any kind, the teacher can make a big difference! Hope you try Yoga again sometime. 🙏
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That is a great experience you’ve mentioned here. Thanks for sharing it with us. Honestly, I tried yoga but it didn’t work out for me the way I thought so I went back to my normal routine. I’m glad that many people including you practice yoga. The title of this post attracted me the most because anything that says FISH attracts me. I’m a Piscean so I’m automatically attracted to it.
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Thank you for reading my posts and commenting in such a thoughtful way. I’m a Piscean also. I think you and I would get along swimmingly. 🙂
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Really? Now that’s a terrific surprise. May I ask your birth date? If not here you can DM me on Instagram. 🙂
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I wrote on your latest Instagram photo. 🙂
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I’m March 16, hence OMG response. 🙂
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I love how the world works. I’m the Ides of March, you’re the day after. I shall always wish you a HB from now on, brother Fish.
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I asked because I wanted to add it to my diary, but I guess now I don’t have to. 🙂
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🙂
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Great post that might inspire me to try yoga again. And telepathy – yes, especially where family is concerned. 🙂
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Oh, please, yes. Try yoga again. It’s important to get the right kind of class and teacher, who doesn’t ‘push’ you into poses, but helps you relax into them gradually and thoughtfully. I had to take a break from yoga for a few months because of a concussion, and returning to my classes became such a great gift in this new year. Namaste.
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