“Go means a cow. Mukha means face. Gomukha means one whose face resembles a cow. It also means a kind of musical instrument, narrow at one end and broad at the other like the face of a cow.”
As Iyengar’s explanation implies, Gomukhasana, or Cow Face Pose (2* on the scale of difficulty), is a pose of seeming opposites: broad shoulders and chest, coupled with narrow legs and hips. This play of opposites makes the pose feel as if it has two faces.
In my personal practice, the two faces of Gomukhasana reveal themselves not only in the opposing breadth and narrowness of the pose, but in the way the asana feels on each side of my body. When I have my right elbow facing up toward the sky, I can easily clasp my hands together behind my back. But, when I switch sides, I can barely lock a few of my fingertips together.
Numerous asanas prove to feel much different on one side of the body than the other. When you discover these differences in your personal practice, how do they make you feel? Do you feel frustrated when your left side body is less open than your right? Do you press yourself further into the pose to attempt to achieve a goal or to prove something to yourself? The next time you find yourself in that self-critical mode, take a deep breath and pause. Consider the differences not as obstacles, but as opportunities to rediscover the pose – from one side of your body to the next.
Related posts:
- The Two Faces of Vatayanasana (Horse Face Pose)
- Space to Breathe in Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward Facing Dog)
- Higher Up in Urdhva Prasarita Ekapadasana (Standing Split)
- Relish in the Repetition of Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog)
- Unlocking Parighasana (Gate Pose)
Tags: alignment, asana, Gomukhasana, Iyengar, Light on Yoga
