A Poem for Side Plank Pose

"It is said that one must see the cracks in the ceiling before we can see the light and that nothing needs to change except for how we see our lives...." - from Side Plank Pose by Corie Feiner

On a cloudy November morning, I set down my mat next to my dining room table, made my way into plank pose and breathed. When I moved from plank to side plank, I took an extra moment to give into the feeling of lifting my hips, steadying myself, and then lifting my other arm towards the early morning sky.

I felt an expansiveness that was similar to the heart opening movement of Star Pose. This feeling fit the Sanskrit name for side plank, which is, Vasisthasana, named after Vasistha, the spiritual teacher of Prince Rama. Vasistha was known to have helped Rama come to understand that feelings of hopelessness and emptiness are often what lead us to awakening and clarity, much like how in plank we move from our hearts facing the earth to opening them to… everything.

I hope this poem helps give you faith in these days of transition, upheaval, and at the same time, more and more light.

Side Plank Pose

By Corie Feiner


I balance on the outer edge of my right foot, 
lift my hips and extend my left arm to the sky. 

I press down through the bottom index finger, 
gaze at my top thumb and wonder 
like I once did, if we are all born 
of both the soil and the stars. 

It is said that one must see the cracks
in the ceiling before we can see the light
and that nothing needs to change
except for how we see our lives. 

It takes a stomach-born strength 
to breathe away the clouds than can 
obscure our eyes, and it takes 

a heart-born calm to hold myself this way, 
even if I tremble and feel like I am going 
to fall. 

I hear a voice telling me, Have faith— 
what needs to be seen will be seen, 
and what needs to be learned
will be learned and light will always 
find a way to make it to the ground. 



Sanskrit Name: Vasisthasana

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Paid subscribers can listen to a spoken word recording of Side Plank Pose here.

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Announcements

We had our sample Bodylove Poetry Writing Workshop this past weekend where we wrote about our relationship with our bellies. It was sacred, cathartic and full of so much love.

The official start of the 8-week workshop is this coming Sunday, February 4th at 10 am EST. I want to keep it small, but still have room for 2-3 more women. If you are interested in joining us, you can learn more about the workshop and register here. (Heads up, we will be closing the registration on Friday, February 2nd.)