Yoga Practice 102 - Be Comfortable

Asana literally translated means comfortable seat. Metaphorically though it is the seat of our soul. There are broadly five families of asanas - Standing poses, forward bends, backbends, twists and inversions. The whole idea is to break down movement and become aware of the motivations of our actions.

"Sthiram Sukham Asanam" means that while in an asana we should be able to find stillness and be comfortable. Surrender the ego and go only as far in a pose as you can easily hold. The Namaste mudra (gesture), of hands together, thumbs (representing the ego) to the sternum with the forehead (judgement) bowing towards the heart (resting place for the soul "atma sthanum") symbolizes this surrender.

In building your own home practice you can create your own sequence of asanas from the family of asanas mentioned above. I like the "Ashtanga" Yoga Primary Series sequence as taught by Shri K. Pattabhi Jois because you can be sure that following this sequence you would have covered all the major asanas in one practice. I learned this sequence under the tutelage of my teacher Govinda Kai over a period of a year by simply showing up for a 7 am, one and a half hour class five days a week. I did not practice regularly for a few years after but even though my mind often forgets the sequence, my body does not. Now when I practice Mysore style, I am able to get through 90% of the practice without stalling.

I cannot emphasize the importance of acknowledging and accepting where you are in your practice and being in the moment. I gained 30 lbs in the last three years as a result of being on medication (I have slowly started to lose that weight because I am back on the mat!) and every time I would find myself on the mat I would start crying because I would think of my 115 lb body and my advanced practice of the primary series. At that time I was just beginning to learn the next set of intermediate asanas, the secondary series. It is sort of like climbing Mt. Everest, finding you are half way there and falling back to the bottom because of a landslide. Bottomline, don't be discouraged and just do it "practice" safely and comfortably and let go of the outcome!!!