After about a dozen years of “doing” yoga, I’m only now truly realizing the meaning within the gross structure of our physical practice (asana). The cycle of life is embodied within the arc of a class. My hope is that you’ll draw your own conclusions from what you already know so well. It’s all around us. It’s all within us. It’s nothing. It’s everything. (Neti neti).
When we begin our practice (sadhana), we do so with folded knees (sukhasana/virasana), close to the earth, or in a fetal position (balasana). Coming to the support of our own breath is the first thing our mothers expect of us independent of their womb. Breath (pranayama) is really the only thing our practice expects of us. We name “it” by setting intention. Our first words are sounds organic to every language, ahhh, ohhh, mmm, (mantra). Through this primal universal speak (pranava) we announce our purpose.
Here the unfolding begins. Exploration of cat/cow on hands and knees is the same position where we learned how to crawl. The transition into downdog (adho mukha svanasana) looks a lot like what brought us to our first steps. By connecting to the earth’s support, we grow in all directions, just as we do if we have our family’s support when we’re young. If we’re to think of the elements (fire, air, water) like the children of our universal mother (earth), it’s through their nature that we’ll find union (yoga) within our Self (atman). Try it in your laboratory: In downdog, connect earth energy with hands and feet, water nature of the spine, fire within breath, hallowing of the navel (uddiyana bandha) representing air. There is no “doing yoga” on this path, it’s all being.
Verticality offers stability through the integration of standing poses. We’re then able to explore asymmetry, rhythmic movements, sequences that create coordination, flow, and meditation in action. Transition into balance (vrksasana, natarajasana) then comes with focus and clarity. Once that balance is found upright, we turn it upside down and explore inversions like headstand (sirsasana), shoulderstand (sarvangasana), and handstand (adho mukha vrksasana). This deep connection to earth brings the intelligence we found in our feet through standing poses to the sky as an offering to the sun (masculine: HA) and moon (feminine: THA). The force (Hatha Yoga) of solar and lunar energy in balance is what creates the cycle of a day, month, season, year, life, age…
Backward bending demonstrates this great arc in physical form. This is the greatest peak within the structure of any class, which opens up the most vulnerable parts of ourselves: our heart, lungs, and reproductive organs. Backbends allow energy (prana) to freely flow within our pathways (nadis). It’s the strength of our legs (standing poses) that will give us this ability to open up the spine and heart. It’s a strong foundation that will allow vulnerability in our lives.
One cannot live at the summit. Although peaks are breathtaking (backbends) there isn’t sustenance above the tree-line. It’s the light of the sun (surya) that got us here, but it will be the luminosity of the moon (chandra) that will lead us the rest of the way. We have no other direction to go but back down to the other end of the arc as we draw energy back in with hip opening (ekha pada raja kapotasana, badha konasana). These quieter more contemplative moments nurture compassion and surrender. Forward folding (pascimottonasana), supine twisting, and happy baby (ananda balasana) leads us to our end in corpse (savasana) pose. Here we have to accept things as they are, and learn to let them go. Death is the ultimate release, corpse pose is just preparing us for that inevitable transition.
We honor the Guru of our own heart and soul (Om Bolo Sad-Guru Maharaj ji ki JAI! Hari om tat sat).
All love.
All ways.
All together.