How To Teach Eagle Pose (Garudasana) Creatively Using Your Right Brain
Use eagle symbolism to weave a theme into your yoga lesson plans.
Eagle Pose
20 Eagle Symbolism Words
- Action
- Authority
- Community
- Command
- Control
- Determination
- Dominance
- Focus
- Freedom
- Guardianship
- Inspiration
- Judgment
- Liberation
- Masculinity
- Opportunity
- Power
- Protection
- Ruler
- Skill
- Vision
Use one of the seven “eagle themes” below in your next yoga lesson plan.
7 Eagle Pose Themes
Grounded by limitation: Not allowing the illusion of limitation to ground us in our flight.
Don’t judge a book by its cover: in spite of its enormous size, the eagle still takes flight, seemingly effortlessly.
Conserve resources (work smarter, not harder): Eagles are opportunistic. They’re skilled hunters, but they go about gaining their food in ways that are more efficient then hunting…eating what’s already been killed.
Communication: As rulers of the sky, the eagle is connected with the air element, which symbolises communication.
Streamlined: An eagle is streamlined, sleek and chiseled. Yoga helps the body to become streamlined, sleek and chiseled.
Focused Change: The eagle teaches us to use our abilities in a laser-like fashion to bring about focused change in our lives.
Fly Higher: Give yourself permission to fly higher.
Teaching Steps
Start in Mountain Pose.
Bend legs slightly.
Weight on left leg.
Lift right leg across left.
Fix gaze. Stand steady.
Lift arms to shoulder height.
Take right arm across left.
Bend elbow.
Bring backs of hands together.
Brings palms together.
Release to Mountain.
Benefits
- Strengthens ankles.
- Releases tightness in the shoulders.
- Balance pose gives a sense of poise.
- Great when feeling stressed.
Preparation Poses
- Downward Facing Dog Pose
- Cow Face Pose
- Standing Forward Bend
Follow Up Poses
Modifications
- Use wall (support back)
Alternatives
- Lean torso into a forward bend
Precautions
- Knee injury
