YOGA EVERY DAY (PART TWO- ASANA)

So now that we’ve established the prerequisites for Yoga Asana and the limbs that follow (see Yoga Every Day - Part One), let's dive into this fourth limb of Yoga, what it is and what it does. Asana is sanskrit for posture and there is a sea out there of variants, old and new, as well as philosophies and ideas on how to perform them. 

A general rule I like to abide by is, “Just do it.” I come to my mat every morning with a bit of a time frame, no expectations, and a habit of starting in sitting. I find sitting to be the best way to check- in on my most up to date life force status i.e. how is my prana? I like a slightly elevated seat such as a blanket or blocks. 

Because I didn’t grow up sitting on the floor as much as I might have in a different culture, this strategy takes away a little pressure in my lower abdomen, which can enable a deeper inhale and allow my breath to expand three dimensionally. I also refrain from checking my prana from a standing position, as I treasure the slow process of my mind awakening in the morning and standing up is just a bit more demanding. I also avoid laying down, as it changes how I breathe into my back- body.

If the answer to my question (“how’s my prana?”) is “easy, full and balanced,” I know that I can trust my breath to be unobstructed to perform most postures in most variations. If the answer is “tough, shallow and unbalanced,” maybe for example one nostril is a bit stuffy, then I commit to a longer, seated warm up and I might stay on the floor without performing any standing variations or sequences.

Checking the breath is something I continuously do throughout the practice. It’s my main tool which determines if I’m practicing within the Goldilock Rule of Sthira Sukham Asanam; effortless effort. That sweet balance where you’re certainly challenging yourself and working through discomforts, but never going over the edge towards pain. Sthira Sukham Asanam is IMPORTANT! Not doing enough of something in exercise theory is equally as bad as overdoing something and our advantage in Yoga is the awareness we carry (partially through anchoring in our breath) during slow and controlled movements. 

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If you're looking to get stronger, then take advantage of a more invigorating practice when your breath allows it. If you're healing, then honor your prana and stay mellow. If you are simply maintaining then play, play, play! Soreness after Yoga is a no-no. Instead, strive to create engrams and impressions that have you coming back for more!​

​The sea of yoga that is offered out there is not meant to confuse you, it's actually meant to give you opportunity for variety! Yogis are limited to their own experience so this means that sometimes  we say or advise things which may not resonate with you. Trust me when I say, we want you to have a practice which enables you to gain the best understanding of yourself, in the most sustainable way, performed with the most uplifting sensations!

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So, try out some different teachers (Yoga with Adriene has 9mil followers, surly she resonates with many), pick up some books (Jules Mitchell is a badass teacher/scientist who breaks down biomechanics), visit studios, sniff around the world- wide- web. Try it with both live and recorded classes, and then proceed to absorb. Soak up what is useful to you, forgivingly filter what is nonsense (for you,) have some fun, and JUST DO IT… for YOU!!

NAMASTE!