“The study of asana is not about mastering posture.
It’s about using posture to understand and transform yourself”
B.K.S Iyengar
A mindful practice at a relaxed pace cultivates a particular level of concentration to attune to your body. The body’s non-verbal language is sensation. When we slow the practice down we give the mind time to track the body’s response to asana. Noticing physical sensations and moving to the breath allows us to feel our way into alignment.
When we move into a posture we need to ease into it, be playful, and take time to settle. In this way postures become a medium for expression and an opportunity to explore a sense of freedom as we invite the body to open and unfurl. Working with curiosity and focus uncovers habitual misalignments and reminds us to find better movement patterns and posture.
Ahimsa (non-harming) the first of the five Yamas (Ethical principles of yoga) teaches us to work with mindful awareness. This quiet state of being allows us to observe our motivations with clarity and to act from our highest potential. We learn to work with the body, not against it. Forcing the body into a shape that isn’t accessible to you is not yoga.
Satya (truthfulness) the second Yama relates to being honest about where we are in our asana practice, recognising our limitations and respecting how the body feels at a particular moment. We observe truth in our practice when we observe the breath. If our breath is strained we know we are asking too much of the body, and it is time to pare back.
Taking time to focus on the breath releases tension and allows us to access a calm state of mind where it is possible to listen and connect to ourselves. If you experience tightness, then respond with compassion. Give attention to the tight-spots, make subtle changes to find space and ease. These feelings are your body’s wisdom so take time to listen, make room for adjustment, be creative. Stay with the action of the posture in that very moment, it isn’t about achieving perfection, it’s about letting the posture evolve and then experiencing its energy.
The way we move influences the way we feel. In Dancers Pose we embody elegance and strength, Warrior, focus and confidence, Mountain, peace and steadiness. I could go on! Our practice empowers us to stay present to everything we feel. Yoga is a physical alchemy, a means of cleansing and energising the body.
So the next time you practice yoga, know that you are setting up a space of self-discovery where you can be fully present to the experience of being in your unique body.