The First Hint of Green Turning to Red (and Samsara)
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“In, Back, and Apart”
As I was preparing my week’s classes, I was led to contemplate the off-the-mat import of the words — “in, back, and apart” — used to describe the actions that activate the Anusara alignment principle “inner spiral,” which is also referred to as “expanding spiral.”
The meaning and point of “yoga,” we are told is union. In the Anusara system, inner or expanding spiral is a critical element of the “universal principles of alignment,” which are designed to get us physically and energetically into our optimal blue-print.
How can going in, back, and apart be what would create an expansion that would enable us to better experience our whole selves and all beings as spirit and in unity? Doesn’t that sound entirely backwards?
Going “in” is one of the key aspects of yoga practice. If we only look out, we can get caught up is grasping and longing, which causes great suffering. Although we need also to appreciate the outside, going in, especially by means of meditation. Going in is what enables us to discover our only true freedom, which is the freedom to choose how we react internally to whatever is going on outside of ourselves.
Moving back in yoga is not the same as backing off or away or turning one’s back on things, which would move us away from connection. Rather, when we move our awareness to the back body or open to what is all around us and not just what is forward-looking, we can soften and open to the unknown and to the unseen, allowing the subtle energies to move and guide us to deeper insight as to what connects and unifies.
Moving apart in inner spiral literally is the expansive component of the action. Moving apart is not becoming more separate, but making space (spaciousness) where there was binding, allowing for more freedom to experience all that is possible. It is also about breaking apart from our preconceived notions of being limited and different.
Moving in, back, and apart does not just realign the legs so that we can heal our pelvis and low backs and radically expand our flexibility even as our bodies age (as if that weren’t good enough). Energetically, it can revolve our whole way of connecting to ourselves and the world.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
- Art and Culture | Community and Family | Dance/Contact Improvisation | Food for the Mind (Yoga Philosophy, etc) | Poetry
Found Quotations
4th Floor Galleries, National Museum of African American History and Culture–the weather having been forecast to be unpleasant for walking about, I got a same day ticket for late afternoon by getting on line a little after 7am.
- Asana, Pranayama, and Yoga Practice | Community and Family | Food for the Mind (Yoga Philosophy, etc) | Meditation
Join Me On-Line Oct 17-Nov 28 Saturday Mornings from 8:30-9:45am
My long-time friend and yoga/meditation buddy Suzanne Lynch extended a warm invitation to lead a practice on her nascent on-line yoga and wellness platform for the next difficult several weeks, and feeling a strong need for such myself and a calling to make offering, I extend the invitation to you:
On-Line Practices October 17-November 28, 2020–Saturday Mornings from 8:30 to 9:45am with Suzanne Lynch Wellness
Please join me, Suzanne, and her wonderful group of practitioners to focus time to maintain our collective grounding so we can better be of service to others, while taking care of ourselves. Practices will be omni-level, with the intention of being inclusive for all bodies (and a warm welcome to feed back to help make it more so) and will include intentional movement and asana, breath and body awareness explorations, meditation, perhaps a dance move here and there, and the connection that comes from live classes–even if by video.
To participate in the practices, you will need to become a member on Suzanne’s website, which requires a monthly fee. In addition with practice with me (at $27 a month, that works out to about $7 a practice, even if you were only to do practices led by me, but I expect you would do more; Suzanne offers 12 live asana practices a month, plus live meditation twice a week, and access to videos for all practices. I like Suzanne’s classes, and those of you who have practiced with me will recognize shared points of practice and teaching methodology.
To sign up, go to Suzanne Lynch Wellness and register for the Reset for Resiliency course. Your code for the special rate of $27 per month (you can cancel any time) is: Elizabeth27. Any challenges signing up, please contact customer service through the SGL website. Any profits that are attributable to my leading these practices will be donated to causes that serve justice and equality and wellness for all.
Hope to connect with many of you.
