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  • Vinyasa Krama (and Anusara Sequencing Principles)

    ByElizabeth

    Vinyasa krama — the art or essence of sequencing is meant to help us align in space and time, so that we experience being and practice in the most optimal way.  Last time I was with John Friend, he gave as a homework assignment, writing down Anusara sequencing principles.  What I found wonderful about thinking this through, was it was not just about how to sequence a practice to reach a particular apex pose (though that is an important aspect of designing a class or practice).  Here’s the list I came up with (not in any particular order and I am sure I’ve left some out):

    First principle (open to grace always comes first)

    Attitude, alignment, action

    Open to grace, muscular energy, inner spiral, outer spiral, organic energy

    Set the foundation of the pose first (for teaching and observing this also applies to looking to the foundation first)

    Breath leads the way

    Stabilize the periphery, move from the core

    Root to rise

    Major principles before applying refinements (i.e., open to grace, ME, IS, OS, OE before loops)

    Sensitivity, stability, adjustment (for hands on/therapeutic adjustments)

    Curvature before length (spinal alignment)

    Shins in, thighs out

    Initiate actions from the back body

    I could blog about these for weeks and how, although they are simply articulated physical alignment principles, they would apply to actions off of the mat.

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    Found Exhortation

    ByElizabeth

    One of the most profound and essential teachings of the great yogis is to “watch the gap.” We are given the practice of watching the gap, the space, the pause, the turning point between the in breath and the out breath, the out breath and the in breath. In the gap, we are able to witness perfect fullness (purna) and perfect emptiness (sunyata). In minding the gap, we can experience perfect stillness and serenity. It is an extraordinary practice in its simplicity and in its gift of peace and repose.

    Whether you have never heard of this practice, learned it at some point but have mostly forgotten about it, or just did it with your own practice, I invite you to take a few minutes on reading this: make your seat steady and as comfortable as possible, close your eyes, invite an intention of finding a still spaciousness in your heart. Draw your attention to the breath and start to notice the space (maybe almost instantaneous and unobservable, maybe a real pause) between the in and out breaths.

    If you are moved, comment on your experience to share with each other. There is no one right reaction nor a wrong one. If it was challenging to sit still and focus, just be gentle and soften to how enjoyable it can be to do nothing other than watch the breath, like the sweet and easy restfulness of watching the movement of waves at the beach.

    Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.

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