THE 8 LIMBS OF YOGA: ASANA

Asana addresses our relationship to the past. The body is a material memory bank. It stores our past choices, thoughts, and what we’ve ingested in terms of food and mental content. All of this shows up as resistance in the body. Our asana practice transforms our body’s response to past experiences.

Asana becomes supremely effective when we understand how different spinal orientations (pose categories) effect the mind and body’s energetic systems. This is the difference between a purposeful practice and a practice that lacks precision and dependable outcomes.

Yoga has recently lost its way, especially in the west. It seems the meaning of yoga has somehow become asana. As important as asana is, it is merely the foundation of what yoga is about. Asana only gets mentioned four times in Patanjali's Yoga Sutra.

In the past, one was considered to be an advanced yogi when they were able to perform challenging and complex poses. Now it’s all about stillness and mental stability. This will show up in the practice. If yoga was about strength and flexibility, then all gymnasts and aerobic instructors would be enlightened.

Come practice this week and use your body to unlock griping, tension and everything you’ve been holding onto which makes you small... We look forward to seeing you on the mat!