Find the metaphor hidden within the practice

ASANA MYTHOLOGY

V O L . 1

written by Harmony Slater Titibhasana This pose is sometimes referred to as "firefly" or "insect" pose, but the actual translation of this is named after a small bird that lives along the coastal regions of India. Have you ever wondered why so many postures are named after animals within the yoga tradition? One answer that a modern Indian Sage once told me, was that when each asana is practiced regularly, the position the body makes starts to untie the knotted "vasanas" (karmic imprints or behavioral tendencies) found hidden within our mental and emotional self. These vasanas accumulate from our past life impressions. This is one explaination for the idea that our unconscious mind is affected by every birth we have ever taken. It is a natural process of Consciousness or the evolution of a transmigrating soul on its way through space and time to attain Awakening and Liberation. The that resemble different animals are targeted to loosen those specific knots associated with our lower tendencies that continue to impact and effect our behaviours in this current life. B

This posture is also sometimes called Parivrtta Parsvakonasana "Revolving Side-Angle Pose." This asana is the second spinal rotation in the Primary Series. It is a powerful twist that develops the integration of breath and together. A challenging posture for sure, especially if you move into the completed twisted position without lifting your back heel and on a single exhalation. The development of 'mula bandha' and 'uddiyana bandha' will greatly assist in creating an unrestricted flow of breath as you hold and deepen this posture.

Revolve into the unknown and look up to the heavens. See if you can catch a glimpse of Lord Indra riding on the back of his white elephant, brandishing a thunder bolt, as he marches through the clouds. Indra bestows light and power and ignites the inner fire of . A

This asana is translated as "Spread Out Foot Intense Stretch." The full expression of this posture has the hands shoulder distance apart and the feet, fingers, and top of the head all in a line, while the head presses firmly into the earth between the hands. "Prithvi" is the name for the earth, and also one name for the mother goddess. She is known for her nurturing, supportive, and bountiful nature. She is intimately connected to "Dyaus," the god of the sky. Heaven fertilizes earth with rain, and together, they support and nourish all life on this planet. The earth and sky are the eternal parents to every living being. This asana encourages us to dig into the earth with all of our limbs and cultivate gratitude for our life and the fertile land that we inhabit. Likewise, the practice of yoga encourages us to dig into the depth of our own body and mind, to find what hidden treasures we might uncover and open ourselves up to a new way of being.

Bakasana This position translates in English as the "Crane Posture." The crane is a long-legged and long-necked bird with a streamlined body and large rounded wings. This posture is an Intermediate Series asana and is to be done with straight arms and feet together, resembling the image of the bird about to take off in flight.

Cranes form monogamous life-long bonds making them a symbol of fidelity, loyalty and success. In many Asian cultures they also represent good fortune, healing, happiness, and longevity due to their legendarily long life spans. They are the also the world's tallest flying bird. The first Sanskrit verse ever uttered by the great sage Valmiki was inspired upon the death of crane. It is said that the sage witnessed a hunter shoot and kill the male of the couple while relaxing by a river. Observing the lovelorn female crying, Valmiki cursed the hunter:

"You will find no rest for the long years of eternity, for you have killed a bird in love and unsuspecting."

In Sanskrit, Garbha means "womb" and Pinda translates as "embryo." Together these two words form the English name of the asana: "Embryo-in-Womb-Posture." When I was first introduced to this posture, I was told to roll 9 times representing 9 months in the womb. However, in led Primary Series classes, Pattabhi Jois and Sharath Jois would only count to five during the rolling part of this posture. Once a student asked Sharath, "Should we roll 9 times or 5 times?" Sharath laughed and said, "Five is enough, but roll as many times as it takes you to get around." Just like that: pragmatic and simple. No story or myth, just do what you need to do and get on with it. This advice always seemed to me to reflect their inherent approach to the practice: Keep it simple. story or myth - just do what you need to do and get on with it. Kind of like the practice. Keep it simple.text The name of this posture translates as "Cow-Face-Pose" and it has two variations in the Ashtanga Yoga Intermediate Series. The first turns your focus inward and the second teaches you to maintain your inward attention while extending your heart and gaze up and out. At times, I have felt like I was in direct communion with God while practicing this posture. It is a beautiful metaphor of worship and how we are to be as yoga practitioners in life: Inwardly aware at all times sustaining that steady connection to our Center and Source.

In the Indian culture, people regard all living creatures as sacred. There is a particularly deep reverence for the cow, who is thought to be a gentle animal, giving back more than she takes. She is a symbol of the Earth, Grace, Abundance, and the Prana that nourishes all beings. The Sanskrit word गो "Go" can mean both "cow" and "light" while the word मुख "Mukha" means "head, face, or mouth." Consequently, Gomukha may also, more esoterically, refer to the inner light that radiates from the head or face of one who is established in yoga. Vatayanasana In Sanskrit, vata means "wind" and yana refers to a "vehicle." The composite word "vatayana" can then translate as either "wind- passage" or "window" also "wind vehicle" or "moving in the wind" and "horse" because a horse can move like the wind. This is often why it gets translated as "Horse Pose" from the Sanskrit.

To raise the body utilizing the muscles of only one leg makes this asana more difficult than it might appear upon first glance. The arms are used both to create balance and to guide the upward movement. If you watch someone get into this position you can see how the arms act a bit like wings and are used to help raise the body in a way that is similar to the wings of a Pegasus taking off. As you practice this posture, you can discover the inner Vayu or the "Lord of the Wind" moving directly through the center of your being. As you extend your finger tips and lift your heart upwards, you become a window for this energy to move out up into the heavens. It is a posture that takes your consciousness deep into your inner core and increases your focus and concentration. A This asana is dedicated to the ancient Sage Marichi. He is a semi- divine figure who is not well describe in any myth or legend, and thus, he is quite the enigma. The Sanskrit word Marichi, literally translates to "Ray of light." When Brahma, the creator deity, manifested the earth, he sent the light down to become living beings. Marichi is one of the first to exist. He is counted amongst the seven great Rishis (seers) who are believed to be the most evolved 'light beings' ever created and guardians of the divine laws of the Universe. Sage Marichi is best known through his descendants, being that he is the grandfather of Vamana (the dwarf) also called Trivikrama, who is the fifth avatar of Vishnu. This group of postures has a strong rooting action and cultivates a deep sense of reverence towards the Earth. We experience this grounding action especially in the first and second variations (A & B) as well as in fifth and seventh variations (E & G) that are found in the Fourth Series of the Ashtanga Yoga sequence. In these postures, the whole body is bowing down and the head or chin is touching the floor. In the "A" variation (shown above) the head touches the extended leg, which is actively engaged, and as a result it presses into the ground and we feel directly connected to the Earth's energy. Urdhva In English, this translates as: “Upward Bow Posture.” I’m always reminded of the great Indian Epic the Ramayana whenever I practice any of the “bow” postures and the story of the Shiva Dhanush, the "Divine Bow of Shiva." This particular bow was given by Shiva to an ancestor of King Janaka. It was said that no ordinary human could lift it, nor could a selfish person even approach it. King Janaka had adopted a daughter named Sita (an avatar of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and wife of Vishnu) who when she was a small girl playing with her sisters lifted the table upon which the bow had been placed. This was something that no other human in the kingdom could do, so Janaka realized immediately that she was not an ordinary girl. When it came time for King Janaka to find a suitable husband for Sita he knew she would need to find an extraordinary man, so he devised a test: Sita would marry the man who could lift Shiva's Bow, string it, and shoot an arrow from it. Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, and the crown Prince of Ayodhya, comes to the contest. He not only lifts the bow, but strings it so tightly that the bow breaks in half! This feat of strength spreads his fame across the kingdoms and seals his marriage to Sita. Literally, it is a match made in Heaven! Purna This posture translates as the "Full Posture of ." Matsyendra means "Fish Lord." One day a small boy overhears Shiva in a private conversation, revealing all the secrets of Ultimate Reality to his beloved consort Parvati. He explains to her the discipline for unleashing true spiritual power and calls it "Yoga." When Shiva realizes that his conversation has been overheard by another, he blesses the boy and names him "Matsyendra." He then encourages the boy to begin practicing all of which he heard and after many years Matsyendra grows up to become the world's first teacher of .

Twisting symbolizes revolving; turning our consciousness back in upon itself, offering a light into the darkness and bringing what's hidden into the light. This process is essential to the practice of yoga. Yoga is a systematic way of purifying the body to liberate the mind.

~ Om ~ "From ignorance, lead me to truth; From darkness, lead me to light; From death, lead me to immortality " ~ Om ~ peace, peace, peace ~ About Harmony

Harmony first journeyed to Mysore in 2004 to study with the Jois family. She received Authorization to teach directly from Pattabhi Jois and after twelve consecutive years of study was given Certification from Sharath Jois in 2015. She is one of the few women in the world to hold this honor. Harmony has a strong presence in our Asthanga community. She founded two traditional Mysore programs, one called Ashtanga Yoga Victoria, and the other, The Calgary Ashtanga Yoga School. She has shared her experiences with the practice, pregnancy and childbirth in the books Yoga Sadhana for Mothers and Strength and Grace: A collection of Essays by Women of Ashtanga Yoga.

She has a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to share with each one of us about the practice of yoga both on and off the mat, and gives abundently in the workshops she teaches all around the world.

Website Link: HARMONY SLATER YOGA

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