Inner Body Bright
Have been teaching this week on keeping the inner body bright and strong, while at the same time maintaining the outer body soft. In Anusara we talk about how our inner body is our prana, our energy, our breath, our intention. In class we try to move from the inside out, from this most optimal place which can be thought of as our highest. I find that when I pause and slowly move into a pose, the poses end up being less aggressive, less binding, sweeter and paradoxically more powerful.
Also, I've been thinking of how when I see pictures of Iyengar or the late Pattabhi Jois, how soft their physical body is yet how powerful their practices are. How when I see great teachers like Darren Rhodes or Sianna Sherman how soft they are and yet how crazy-strong their practice is.
Here's a quote from John Friend's Anusara Yoga Teacher Training Manual:
"When the outer body is aligned with the Optimal Blueprint, the body senses this. The connective tissue becomes stronger, more resilient, and increases in flexibility while the internal circulation, including prana, increases. Simply moving the outer body toward synchronization with the Optimal Blueprint improves the flow of all body energies."
It's so hard to do, though. I notice that when I call out a pose in class, say, "Virabhadrasana 1", everyone immediately takes the shape of the pose from the outside. Almost like we are forcing our way into our idea of what the pose is. Lately I've been trying coax and to unfurl the students into the poses; to let the poses spring from the inside out, almost as if they are revealing the poses from inside.
Another thing I've been doing is reminding them to let their breath take them into the pose. Say during a vinyasa instead of "plank everyone" going "inhale your way into plank pose" and so on. That way the poses are contained within the envelope of the breath. Making it sweeter and more powerful.
I've noticed this week that the students are so much more in tune and yet are working really hard!
Theme: Inner Body Bright
Focus: First Principle
Down Dog, Uttanasana,
Lunge, Uttanasana
Lunge with twist
Down Dog
Parsvakonasana
vinyasa
Warrior 2, Reverse Warrior 2
vinyasa
Warrior 1, Warrior 3, Reverse Half Moon,
Handstands
Malasana
Bakasana
Handstand (focusing on the breath in handstand! Noticed that most students hold their breath when they kick. Have been encouraging them to notice their breath and to play with it; I like kicking with an exhale.)
Malasana
Eka Pada Bakasana #1
Trikonasana
Half Moon,
Ardha Chandra Chapasana
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana prep #1
Ustrasana
Urdhva Dhanurasana (noticed that so many people start this pose from a hardening place; already their back is in a backbend before they come up! Have been teaching them to fill up their back body before they come up to the top of their head!)
Janu Sirsasana
Ardha Matsyendrasana
Supine twist
Savasana
Anusara Poster Project Pose: Continuing with the standing poses of the Level 2 syllabi. Reverse Warrior 2!
cannot do yoga. must only read mr. pullman.
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I found your blog via The Joy of Yoga. Really lovely post. I really like the idea of filling the pose from the inside, instead of hardening the exterior into the "right" shape.
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