#sthirasukham

[luanafarayoga]

One of the most difficult things to practice while in Vasisthasana is to not push the lumbar forward. When we are in postures where balance is precarious we tend to counter act by collapsing the pelvis forward, which physically speaking will keep us in balance, but in terms on healthy biomechanics and alignments will not be necessarily the best for our body, specially for the spine. Instead of allowing the pelvis to collapse one must use the counter forces to create stability, bringing the pubic bone forward opposite to the femur bone that pushes back. Same with the torso, while the chest opens by bringing the anterior face of the shoulder blades into the body, the front ribs and belly wall resist moving backwards giving stability to the spine. It’s really not about the Asana we practice but about how we practice it. Opposite forces should always act to create space and expansion. We can practice all types of Asana that if we do not develop the awareness of how to use the body with smart biomechanics we will end up creating the opposite effect of what the practice of yoga is intended to bring. The main purpose of Asana is to create space in the spine so it prepares the body to allow the energy to flow through the main energetic channels (Shushumna Nadi eventually) when we meditate. The space in the spine is created by positioning the body limbs as levers, to bring the body weight to the axis aligned with the force of gravity, so when this happens less effort is required and while the expansion of the spine is created a state of inside softness or Sukha arises. 📷👉🏽 photo by my beautiful partner @fotosbyboca #vasisthasana #asana #yogaasana #sthirasukham #yogaisequanimity #practicekindnessandcompassion #luanafarayoga https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn1ouFznlcN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1f4wic5l6yrvm

[luanafarayoga]

🔻 G R A V I T Y 🔻 Observe your body and feel the forces that are acting on it in different positions. Gravity is always pulling us down. And when the axis of the body is not on a perpendicular line against the ground, that force becomes stronger so we can actually feel our body weight. While practicing a yoga posture we use all of our muscular activation to bring our limbs towards a centered axis to help the weight bearing. We use levers for this purpose and a lot of concentration on the actions we are performing. This is known in Yoga as “Sthira”, the stability that is reached through an effort. Then when our weight is distributed on an axis that is aligned with the force of gravity we don’t have to do so much of muscular actions so our attention and breath softens, we let go of the effort. This is known as “sukham”. Once we are in the posture and our body stops pulling our attention to the gross we become one with the posture and our attention goes to infinite, and so we reach perfection in Asana, which is what Patanjali states in Yoga Sutra 2:47. “prayatna-śaithilya-ananta-samāpattibhyām” Patanjali doesn’t call perfection in Asana on the physical body but on the mind. But we tend to attach to the physical part. Certainly in this posture I was all the time just trying to keep the balance and not fall on the rocks (besides the fact that I was doing a posture for a photo and not as part of my practice), so you can see in my expression there is no softness, but a great concentration on the actions of the body. Everything is a learning process that requires repetition with discipline and patience, and of course detachment of the result. 📷👉🏽 thank you @_santivera_ for this great photo at @tabaconresort #tittibhasana #armbalance #yogaasana #sthirasukham #yogainnature #yogaisequanimity #luanafarayoga (at Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnbYaOOHOfN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2pudzhk6bj29