By Jessica Brown

Recently my daughter asked me what my spirit animal was.  I was totally stumped by this question, mostly because admittedly I had no idea what a spirit animal really was.  

I was curious,  so I  decided to go on Professor Google to see what they had to say.  According to Dictionary.com, "In certain spiritual traditions or cultures, spirit animal refers to a spirit which helps guide or protect a person on a journey and whose characteristics that person shares or embodies. It is also metaphor, often humorous, for someone or something a person relates to or admires."

I couldn't think of what my spirit animal was so I decided to choose my "spirit yoga pose".   One of my favorite poses is fish pose, "Matsyasana" (maht-see-AHS-uh-nuh).  Fish pose is a backbend that stretches the front of the body, particularly the throat, chest, abdomen and hip flexors.  Traditionally a part of the finishng sequence of a vinyasa practice, I literally feel like my body is floating in this pose.  It reminds me of the warmer months just floating in the water trying to catch the sun.  Fish always look so peaceful to me just swimming around and around, being perfectly content with what they have.  What is more yogic than that? 

My daughter on the other hand did not want to choose a pose, but  would say her spirit animal is a horse.  She loves the free feeling of riding with the wind on her back and jumping through the air as if she is flying.  

 It is incredible to watch her form this bond with such a large animal.  We often feel the same way about challenging yoga poses.  Can we trust ourselves in a handstand?  That is up to the individual yogi.  

So tell us, what is your spirit animal or spirit pose?