The Warrior helps one accept change

Time to celebrate, let loose, have fun, take risks and not be afraid.

It’s the end of the semester and for a lot students, this day sometimes seemed like it would always stay on the horizon. But now it’s summer with no school and more freedom.

Even with all this fun, your yoga routine doesn’t need to be compromised and forgotten. Yoga isn’t a quick fix to ailments or losing weight; yoga is a lifestyle.

For a different yoga experience this week, try doing yoga on a slackline. A slackline is usually one or two inch-wide nylon webbing, which makes it bouncy. This is where it gets fun and a bit tricky.

Being able to walk on a slackline takes a lot of time and patience, but with the effort and passion anyone can master the craft of balance. A relatively simple yoga pose to try on the slackline is the Warrior 2 yoga pose.

Start at the end point of the slackline, stand up and walk to the middle of the line. The mid-point is the least stable part of the line, yet if you move your body with the fluid motion, by bending your knees and bouncing slightly and breathing with the line, you can find your center point and hold your balance.

1. Slide your front foot slightly forward and bend the knee to keep your front thigh parallel to the slackline.

2. The back leg and foot will turn slightly so it is perpendicular to the line. And keep the back leg straight, almost pushing into your front leg as your hips sink lower. Keep your legs strong.

3. Keep your arms out and palms down to be parallel to the line.

4. Face your head and eyes forward. Breathe and concentrate. On the slackline, it helps to focus on one static point to help balance.

To get out of the pose on the slackline, slide the front foot forward, turn your back leg back to facing forward and then keep walking on the line.

The Warrior 2 helps keep you grounded. Doing it on a slackline can remind you that you are capable of rooting yourself anywhere, which helps you accept any change that comes, such as graduating college, moving states or transferring to a 4-year university.

According to “Yoga Cures” by Tara Stiles, the Warrior 2 is also beneficial by countering binge eating, lack of self esteem and laziness.

If you aren’t ready for standing on the slackline yet, try sitting in a meditation pose. This will allow you to still practice balance and nostril breathing with the movement of the line in a more comfortable way.