BASICS OF ASANAS

Articles In This Section:

· BASICS OF ASANAS

· SETTING A TIME FOR YOGA

· %DEATH POSE IN YOGA

· RAISED LEGS POSTURE IN YOGA

· SIMPLE POSE IN YOGA

· PERFECT POSE IN YOGA

· BUDDHA POSE IN YOGA

· DIFFICULT POSTURES IN YOGA

· REVERSE POSTURE IN YOGA

· SUPINE POSE IN YOGA

· SHOULDER STAND IN YOGA

· ENTIRE BODY STRETCH IN YOGA

· STANDING POSITION IN YOGA

· STOMACH LIFT IN YOGA

· ABDOMINAL EXERCISE IN YOGA

· ARDJA-MATSYENDRASANA POSE IN YOGA

· TWISTING POSTURE POSE IN YOGA

· BOIV POSTURE IN YOGA

· COBRA POSE IN YOGA

· POSTERIOR STRETCH IN YOGA

· PLOUGH POSE IN YOGA

· HALASANA POSE IN YOGA

· HEADSTAND FOR YOGA GETTING READY

· NEXT STEP IN THE HEADSTAND POSE FOR YOGA

· HEADSTAND POSE FOR YOGA

· FINAL STEP FOR THE HEADSTAND POSE IN YOGA

Of the 22 asanas described in this chapter, you may only be able to execute two, three or four. This is not of too great importance. As we have said again and again, Yoga is not a system of mere body culture, and since you are not in competition with yourself, you need not be disturbed or discouraged at any point simply because you cannot do at once what you are trying to do while practicing. Of course, with patience you may be able to improve steadily and limber up as time goes on, and be the better for it, but this after all is not your main purpose. Always keep in mind that what really counts in the daily routine you establish for yourself is the fusing of mental, spiritual and physical experience. You want to learn to live at full capacity, and not to drive yourself beyond that capacity.

There is not to say that if the description of a certain asana sounds exactly like what the doctor ordered, but seems at first all but unfeasible, you should not try to incorporate it into your schedule even though it requires effort. Work at it by all means, but approach your task with plenty of patience and perseverance. It does not matter if at first you cannot do it properly, for like any other routine it will become easier and easier with repetition. Stiff muscles and joints will gradually limber up. Only be sure not to dissipate your energies: it is better to practice a single asana morning and night for a while, perfecting it before you go on to another one, than to go through a dozen exercises sloppily and without due thought.

Almost all Westerners, except athletes and the very young or very limber, find their joints protesting painfully when they begin Yoga practice. In addition, sitting for even a few minutes in a fixed position will make your limbs ache. This is only natural, and when this happens, simply stretch briefly, gently massage the aching spot, then resume the position. At the end of a week you will find the whole procedure a good deal easier.

At the risk of being repetitive, let us remind you again that all asanas should be done in conjunction with deep rhythmic breathing and with complete concentration. Remember to rest briefly after each asana. It is always best to plan to alternate the more invigorating ones with the completely restful; for instance, after the Headstand, the Savasana; after the Plough, the Lotus Pose, and so on. Since the control of consciousness is your ultimate goal, it goes without saying that it is all-important to concentrate deeply on what you are doing. Only in this manner will your mind be exerting maximum influence on every single muscle and tendon, every nerve and blood cell, while at the same time your rhythmic breathing will be filling your body with prana—charging it, so to speak, with the positive vital currents so essential to health, healing and long life.

Always begin your exercises with a period of Deep Relaxation followed by the breathing routines given in Chapter V.