asana - steady & easy seat
This week, the 3rd of Patanjali’s 8 limbs of yoga – Asana. Asana are the yoga postures we know as ‘yoga’ in our western culture.
Traditionally asana was only 1 aspect of yoga – and in the yoga sutra it’s simply referred to as ‘steady, easy seat’ which was used by yogis to sit, in padmasana or lotus pose, for long periods of meditation.
Today, asana, this physical aspect of yoga, is what we mainly associate with as yoga. Asana has evolved from ‘steady, easy seat’ to many thousands of yoga poses and variations.
Asana has most probably been picked up in the west as it is a realistic step in providing a physical practice to use as our point of focus; as we slowly train our minds towards being comfortable being still. If we were to simply sit in lotus pose, or cross legged, for long periods it would be too challenging. As I find, even yoga classes filled with asana is too much of a jump for many to be able to slow down.
When we practice our asana, we can be tempted to push ourselves beyond our current limits or try to achieve a challenging pose. This striving is strongly associated with the outer world, with us beginning to restrict our breath and also our movement, when we begin to strive for things, not just when forming yoga poses.
Conversely practicing simple asanas, or easing into our practice, and co-ordinating the breath develops awareness of what’s going on in our bodies and you may also notice, in your mind. As such, a more gentle practice can be more effective than a challenging one.
This week, letting go of effort in your practice, allowing yourself to draw your attention inward, perhaps observing what’s going on with your body, and your mind, as you move through or hold each pose.
Not only does our asana practice work on our strength and flexibility, it also provides us with a vehicle in which to become more aware of our inner selves.
Reflecting this week on times when you strive to get things right, or perfect, and may benefit from letting go of your effort, and turning your attention inwards, for the answers…
And resolving to catch yourself when striving, and perhaps experiment with less physical/outer effort, and more ease and awareness.
The physical attributes of the asana are strength, flexibility and balance but they also help us cultivate being present and mindful, as we keep our attention on the pose we are training our mind to focus….. and in the process experience self-compassion and self-regulation.
Margrit Segesman 1905 - 1998
We follow a particular yoga sequence, taught by Margrit Segesman (pictured) and passed down to my teacher, her student, Helen Kershaw. Margrit opened the first full time yoga school in the 1950s, in Melbourne. You can read about Margrit;s life here.
Our sequence of 10 poses starts with the mudra, spine twist & bridge or camel poses.
We then work through balancing the gland centres in the body – creative glands, pancreas & liver, supra-renal glands, thymus, thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary and pineal gland.
Our asana sequence is based on setting our mind to be present – through the
Mudra (tuning fork),
Spine twist (supports the CNS and communication) and
a pose to support our energy centres.
We then move through the gland centres in the body:
Forward fold – gonads – or creative glands
Bandha – pancreas & liver
Locust or bow – supra renal glands
Cobra – thymus
Shoulder stand – thyroid
Fish – parathyroid and pituitary gland
Inversion – pineal centre
Nicky’s yoga classes are a gentle, hatha style, suitable for beginners.
Along with teaching weekly yoga classes in Beaumaris, Bayside Melbourne, Nicky is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (PACFA), coach and mindfulness meditation teacher.
Get in touch with Nicky to find out more.