Deepening awareness in your poses

When practicing your poses…slow down.  Breathe.  Allowing the breath to lead the movement, allows the body to respond to the poses within the limits of your individual body, as well as providing the space to explore the poses deep into your edge.  Your edge is defined by the physical sensation in your pose that exceeds the mind noise, maintains a steady flow of breath, and is right before that place of pain and right beyond that place of familiar comfort.  In order to explore your edge in poses, it is important to begin with a deep awareness of where you and your body are in the “now”.  When moving through a pose sequence or flow, become aware of what muscle group is immediately engaged the second you begin to move into your pose.   Then notice the last muscle group you engage to hold your pose while breathing steadily and easily.  When holding a posture, feel into the exact area of the body where you feel the muscles working the strongest.  Holding your pose as you explore your edge, notice the shift in muscle engagement.  You will be able to feel the muscles taking turns to support the body, as one group tires and another steps in to bear and hold more weight.  Take the time to walk your awareness through your body to the areas that are not demanding your attention. For example…take time to notice what is happening in your upper body while in deviasana.  How are you holding your shoulders, neck, jaw, face?  Where can you release tension that you don’t need in order to maintain your pose.  How does the breath feel in your body and where exactly do you feel the flow of breath?  Direct your breath to different areas of the body and notice the subtle shifts and changes as your awareness deepens. 

Taking your time to explore your poses prevents injury.  Remember it is the process of moving from point a to point b.  Where is your mind as you practice and how does this resemble the way you move through your day?  Asana practice brings breath into the body.  Enjoy it, relax into it, allow the breath to bring health and nourishment into your cells, your thoughts and the space you create.

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