Sublime

Because different yoga poses set up various patterns of breathing and physiological action, postures are invitations into the psychological and physiological webs that form the matrix of the mind-body. Posture sequences open up different layers and movements of mind and body and thus work on the sheaths of mind and body in distinct ways.

As you might surmise, yoga involves a lot of isometric effort. Whenever you hold an active asana, your muscles must engage isometrically. Maintaining upright posture throughout the day is also an isometric effort. Transitioning in and out of poses, however, requires concentric and eccentric efforts of various muscles.

I cue through starting with Tadasana and have my clients lift their internal arches while rooting through the triad in the feet. Then, begin yin breathing with an inhale up the insides of the legs, drawing the breath up the front of the spine to the top of the head, then exhaling down the SBL.

As we move in and out of poses in union with the breath, we may experience a sense of seamlessly joining our inner world of experience with the external world of perception and our interactions with others. As we do, the practice takes on a deeply meditative quality.