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.