“Deep inside the fabric of matter and energy, there are gods and goddesses in embryo. Waiting to be born.” Deepak Chopra
Garbha Pinda means embryo in the womb, hence the asana is meant to resemble the foetus in utero. As Iyengar notes, the pose doesn’t exactly resemble an embryo: “The embryo’s head is down, while the legs are up and not folded in padmasana”. Nevertheless, the essence of this primordial pose remains within the shape of the asana (7* on the scale of difficulty).
Just as the pose itself doesn’t exactly resemble the foetus in utero, so my expression of Garbha Pindasana doesn’t exactly resemble Iyengar’s. I can’t quite catch my ears with my hands and simultaneously lift my head up. Nevertheless, I’m able to achieve the deep abdominal contraction inherent in the pose, and thereby reap the benefits of the asana.
My Garbha Pindasana may not look quite like Iyengar’s, but I’m still exploring the fabric of my practice, winding toward the core of my being – the divine, true Self that resides within.
Tags: asana, Garbha Pindasana, Iyengar, Light on Yoga
