The leaves are falling, there’s a crispness to the air, and orange gourds fill front stoops – that’s right, it’s spooky season. Halloween and the days preceding it bring to mind memories of traipsing around the school yard in costumes and gallivanting around the neighborhood in search of treats. I have on some years as an adult dressed up for Halloween and celebrated with friends, and I must admit I have at times felt a little silly about that fact. Though dressing up and playing make believe comes so easily as a child, we often lose that ease as adults.
A few weeks ago I was preparing to teach a class on Friday, October the 13th, and trying quite hard to come up with a way to tie in the idea of superstitions and Halloween to class (Is there something about letting go of superstitions tied to aparygraha? Is there something connected to self-study (svadhyaya) about why we believe superstitions? Is there something about being content (santosha) with who we are instead of putting on a costume?). Then I came to a very simple and clear realization: there doesn’t need to be a lesson in everything.
Instead of sharing a lesson and inviting my students to work on something on the mat during class, I instead invited them simply to enjoy moving their bodies and maybe be a little silly. With some inspiration from another yoga blog, I guided my class through some “spooky” poses peppered with arguably silly cues (“Feel free to flick your wrist and cast a spell on the person behind you. It can be a nice spell!”). I did feel a little ridiculous at times during class, but sometimes that’s needed to have fun. If you’re keen to get a little silly with some spooky poses, here are two that are a great place to start:
Black Cat Pose
This is physically the same as cat pose (of cat/cow), but invites you to channel your inner Halloween cat. From table top, inhale to drop your belly and lift your gaze, coming into cow pose. Then, exhale to round through your back, drop chin to chest, and pull your navel towards your spine. Think about looking like a black cat who has just been startled, pulling your back high towards the ceiling. Add a hiss, meow, or any other spooky cat noises before flowing through the sequence a few times.
Witch on a Broom Pose
From tadasana, bring your feet together and zip together your legs. Inhale to reach your arms up and overhead, biceps by your ears. Exhale to sink your hips back to what some might call “chair pose” and take flight on your broom. Bonus points: feel free to mount your broom from the side if you really want to embrace your inner witch. Inhale to squeeze your thighs together (can’t let that broomstick slip!), and exhale to sink a little deeper.
Keep your lower body still and inhale to bring your arms straight out in front of you, parallel to the ground. Exhale to pull your right arm behind you for an open twist. Here’s your chance to cast a spell on the person (real or imaginary) behind you. Stay for a few breaths, then inhale back to center and repeat on the other side.
And in case you were wondering, yes, I am dressing up and celebrating with friends this Halloween. You’ll find me traipsing around downtown Boulder in a butterfly costume, likely feeling just a little bit silly.
Caitlin Marie Yoga, LLC 