“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.” Martha Graham
Kukkutasana (Cock Pose) registers as 6* on the 60* scale of difficulty. The first time I attempted the asana was when my husband and diligent photographer took the photo for this blog entry. I’ve never had a teacher who offered Kukkutasana in class and, when I explored the pose by myself, I struggled to raise my body away from the floor.
Iyengar instructs the practitioner to “Insert the hands in the space between the thigh and calf near the knees. Start with the fingers and gradually push the hands down up to the elbows.” I found I could only squeeze half of my forearm through the space between my thigh and my calf. Still, this amount of extension seemed to be enough to facilitate a lift off.
Iyengar then says, “Exhale, raise the body off the floor and balance on the palms, keeping the thumbs together.” But, for me, the transition wasn’t quite as simple as exhaling and raising my body off of the floor. To combat the force of gravity urging my lower body down toward the floor and to accommodate for the fact that, in this position, I couldn’t easily bend my elbows, I needed to gently rock my weight onto my hands to provide a little extra momentum. I fell back on my butt a few times, but ultimately, this extra push of energy made it possible for me to do the arm balance.
Sometimes, my path into the pose varies from Iyengar’s. Rather than seeing these moments as signs of limited ability, I see them as moments of creativity. Finding a way to explore the asana, beyond the bounds of the instructions provided, reminds me that the creative force of this practice lives within the wisdom of our bodies. Each of us comes to the practice with unique abilities and intuitions that enliven our exploration of the poses. When instruction cannot fully guide you into the pose, call upon the unique life force within you to find your way. And then, share that wisdom with others. Keep the channel open.
Tags: alignment, asana, Iyengar, Kukkutasana, Light on Yoga, Martha Graham
