Yoga is well known for having multiple physical and mental health benefits. However, the type of yoga you choose may be the key to getting the most out of the practice. For Black Americans, this can mean exploring Kemetic yoga. As more researchers take a look at this practice, you may want to try it out, too.
Kemetic yoga is a lesser-known form of yoga that originated in ancient Egypt. It originated in the African Kemet civilization and was modernized by Asar Hapi and Yirser Ra Hotep. To create the yoga practice used today, they combined movement with wall carvings, hieroglyphics, and paintings of pharaohs in different positions.
The Kemetic yoga system focuses on spiritual connection through movement, controlled breathing, and meditation. It’s believed that using poses to align the spine can correct physical issues by allowing energy to flow effectively through the body.
While Kemetic yoga is its own practice, some poses may resemble those in Indian yoga. This is because both forms are based on the same ancient Egyptian records.
This may not surprise you, given that many doctors consider yoga to be a great form of exercise. While Kemetic yoga focuses on breathwork and the movement of energy, many of the poses can build muscle and strengthen your body. Practicing Kemetic yoga may also improve your balance.
With its emphasis on breathing and meditation, Kemetic yoga may help manage stress. Many health experts recommend breathing exercises to ease stress and manage situations that usually make you anxious.
As you work on the connection between breathing and movement, you may experience more balanced emotions. Your interactions with others can also benefit from this emotional regulation, leading to better relationships.
Mindfulness is often defined as a form of self-awareness that can help you handle hectic situations more effectively. Some benefits of mindfulness can include better mental health, more focus, and improved memory. Some practices, like yoga, include exploring mindfulness through meditation.
Along with breathwork, exploring a spiritual connection is integral to Kemetic yoga. According to health experts, spirituality can significantly impact your overall health. You’re less likely to have depressive episodes and manage stress better. Doing this can help you build a community with like-minded Black people, which is good for your mental health.
RELATED: 10 Stress-Fighting Yoga Poses
It’s important to consult your doctor before starting a new exercise routine. Even if the poses seem easy and low-impact, you don’t know how they may affect you. Talk to your doctor about any physical restrictions you may have, and ask whether modified poses might be a better option for you. You can then use this information as a guide when trying poses or attending a Kemetic Yoga class.
Once you’re comfortable, these are a few great poses to get you started.
Kemetic yoga places equal emphasis on breathing as on physical movement. In this pose, you focus on inhaling energy up your spine and into the third eye center while in a standing position. You hold your breath for a few seconds, then exhale the energy down your body to the tips of your toes, and hold it there for a few seconds. This pose is meant to balance your mind while deepening your energy as you practice.
This is similar to corpse pose in Indian yoga. It’s meant to connect you with and ground you in the spiritual side of Kemetic yoga. You would lie on your back with your legs and arms relaxed while breathing deeply.
While this pose may seem similar to the Indian lotus pose, it’s named for the Egyptian god, Nefertem. This god is usually shown with a lotus flower on his head. Doing this pose honors rebirth and the spiritual connection to this god.
To do it, sit with your legs extended, then cross them. You then place each foot on the opposite thigh with soles facing upward, close to the hip crease. Keeping your spine erect, shoulders relaxed, and knees pulling towards the floor, you can then engage the hips rather than forcing your knees into the pose.
One belief in Kemetic yoga is that you can move energy more effectively through your body when your spine is balanced and strong. It also opens the door to a spiritual awakening.
For this pose, sit on the floor with your legs extended. Then cross one knee over the other, and twist toward the bent knee. In that position, Inhale to lengthen your spine, and exhale to twist deeper. Hold this pose for 30–60 seconds, maintaining a straight back and keeping both sit bones on the ground.
This pose is dedicated to the Egyptian god of the dead. Anpu is the bridge between the material and spiritual worlds, so holding this position shows that you’re putting your ego aside to embrace the purity of mind and action. In this pose, you take a kneeling position with one hand resting on your heart and the other raised upwards.
Selkhet is the Egyptian goddess associated with the world of the dead. In Kemetic yoga, though, she embodies the flow of life-force energy. When you do this pose, you’re embracing the balance of energy in your life.
For the Selket pose, stand with feet together or hip-width apart, distributing weight evenly across all four corners of your feet. After that, you should engage your legs, lengthen your spine, drop your shoulders, and face your palms forward, holding the pose for 30–60 seconds.
This pose is dedicated to the Egyptian sphinx, an ancient and sacred symbol. Although it appears to be a combination of the Indian-style sphinx and child poses, this Kemetic yoga pose delves deeper into Egyptian philosophy to honor the sphinx’s unique power.
The pose is a little more intricate and starts with you on your stomach. Lie face down on your mat with your legs extended straight behind you. You should then place your forearms on the floor, parallel to each other, with your elbows directly under your shoulders. The next step is to press the tops of your feet and your pubic bone firmly into the ground. Next, lift your kneecaps and engage your inner thighs.
As you inhale, press your forearms into the mat to lift your upper body off the floor, bringing your chest forward and upward. While keeping your neck long, relax your shoulders and move them away from your ears. While in this position, look directly ahead at the horizon or at your hands, keeping your head neutral. Breathe slowly and deeply into your belly and then hold the pose for 30 seconds to several minutes, focusing on relaxation in the strength. Finally, release the pose.
Some practitioners liken this pose to the crocodile pose in Indian yoga. This association may have occurred because it’s designed to honor an Egyptian god associated with the Nile or a West African crocodile. However, others say the pose is closer to the pigeon pose.
Either way, following these steps can help you to pull it off. Start by getting into child’s pose. You should then stretch one leg backward while placing weight on the other bent leg. Lift your hands slowly off the mat and pull them close to your chest, palms facing outward. Next, twist to the side while stretching your arms outward. Hold this pose for 30-60 seconds.
For Black Americans, Kemetic yoga is more than just another form of yoga. It’s a good way to boost your overall health while reconnecting with your African roots. While certain beginner poses shouldn’t be an issue, it’s best to talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise routine.
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