Posts Tagged ‘beauty’

Bowing to the Past in Paschimottanasana (Intense Stretch to the West Pose)

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

“Paschima literally means the west. It implies the back of the whole body from the head to the heels. The anterior or eastern aspect is the front of the body from the face down to the toes.” BKS Iyengar, Light on Yoga

Paschimottanasana (Intense Stretch to the West Pose, 6* on the scale of difficulty) is one of my favorite asanas. Both the deep stretch and the meaning behind the pose reverberate with me. Physically, the intensity of the stretch in my back body – from my heels to the nape of my neck – offers the perfect release toward the end of a vigorous practice. As Iyengar explains, the pose provides the practitioner with many benefits. “A good stay in this pose massages the heart, the spinal column and the abdominal organs, which feel refreshed and the mind is rested. Due to the extra stretch given to the pelvic region more oxygenated blood is brought there and the gonad glands asorb the required nutrition from the blood. This increases vitality [and] helps to cure impotency.”

While the physical benefits and sensations of Paschimottanasana definitely contribute to my enjoyment of the pose, I fell in love with Paschimottanasana for its symbolism. Stretching the western side of the body, the back body, represents a letting go of everything that has come before. Bowing down to the western sunset of your practice, you acknowledge all that may have happened to lead you to this moment, and gently release your ties to those memories. You honor your experiences and, with the reverence of a deep bow, you leave them behind to reside in the beauty of the present moment.

Tags: asana, beauty, Iyengar, Light on Yoga, Paschimottanasana, past, present
Posted in Asanas, Paschimottanasana | 7 Comments »

From Indulgence to Reverence: Trianga Mukhaikapda Paschimottanasana (Three-Limbed Forward Bend)

Saturday, June 19th, 2010

“Along with Janu Sirsasana and Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana, this asana tones the abdominal organs and keeps them free from sluggishness. We abuse our abdominal organs by over-indulgence or by conforming to social etiquette. Abdominal organs cause a majority of diseases and ancient sages emphasised that their health was essential for longevity, happiness and peace of mind.” BKS Iyengar Light on Yoga

Iyengar’s description of the abdominal benefits of Trianga Mukhaikapda Paschimottanasana (5* on the scale of difficulty) caught me off guard. Thus far in Light on Yoga, Iyengar has steered clear of social commentary, but here he mentions our tendency to abuse our bodies for the sake of indulgence.

Whether we’ve picked up a pint of ice cream to sugar coat a bad day, drank more than we should to drown out negative feelings, or simply ate too much because everyone else was, most of us can relate. As a teenager, I struggled greatly with these issues and punished myself (emotionally and physically) for every time I overindulged. Punishing myself only added another layer of abuse to my body and my mind.

With time and great effort, I learned to appreciate my body and treat it with respect. As my yoga practice has deepened over the years, my respect has evolved to reverence. In yogic tradition, it is a great blessing to be reincarnated as a human being. We could have been given so many different life forms – a frog, a horse, a monkey. But, instead, in this lifetime, we were given human bodies and human minds with the capacity of steering our intentions toward union with the divine. The human body is a living temple, and the life force, the prana, residing within it is sacred. We must care for the temple as well as possible, honoring it with good food, exercise and rest.

The next time you find yourself on the brink of overindulgence, take a moment to reflect on the divine blessing that is your body. Consider how you can best fuel yourself to serve as a vehicle for spiritual and physical uplift. You may still indulge from time to time, but rather than punishing yourself for those wanderings, you can return to your center, bow down to the light within you, and start anew. For me, that realization has made all the difference.

How do you honor the temple of your body?

Tags: beauty, indulgence, Iyengar, Light on Yoga, reverence, Trianga Mukhaikapda Paschimottanasana
Posted in Asanas, Trianga Mukhaikapda Paschimottanasana | No Comments »

Child’s Play in Supta Vajrasana (Reclining Thunderbolt Pose)

Sunday, June 13th, 2010

Supta Vajrasana (Reclining Thunderbolt Pose) registers as 12* on the scale of difficulty. Iyengar introduce the pose by explaining that, “This is a difficult asana and requires great practice.”

To set up for this pose, begin in Baddha Padmasana, then lift your thighs up and rest the backs of your arms on the ground behind you. Keep your fingers clasping your toes and release your legs back down toward the floor.

As you can see, I can’t maintain the bind and also rest my legs back down on the ground. But, just as in Baddha Padmasana, it’s important not to get too caught up in the bind. As Iyengar said, the full pose may only come to you after great practice. In the meantime, as you explore the asana, enjoy the benefits of the pose: the opening of your hips and your chest, the stretch of your neck (and the resulting positive impact on your thyroid glands).

Iyengar says, “Once this pose is mastered, Matsyasana will appear to be child’s play.” But, perhaps we can adopt a different perspective. May all the poses be child’s play – the exploration of the asanas from your own starting point, the wonderous beauty of the body, and the bliss of letting your heart guide your practice.