Asanas that inform me #1
In this post I want to talk about three. These asanas are at the beginning, the middle, and the end. One informs me about breath, one informs me about my MS, and one informs me about peace. They all tell me something about my life. I try to practice Monday through Saturday with Saturday being more of an unfocused pass through the asanas – I could be watching an English football match at the same time. MS overrides everything that happens to me physically and it may sound heavy to compare my practice to my life but it really is not. Because practice is the first thing I do just about every morning, it is part of my life. It may be better to say it reflects my life.
As you start the primary series at Suryanamaskura A; this is where I introduce myself to this days practice. It’s where I love to discover my breath and set the tempo for the rest of my practice. I inhale and raise my arms then exhale and fold forward towards the floor. On this first Utanasana (forward fold) my finger tips touch the floor. On the second Utanasana my fingers are flat on the floor and on the third Utanasana my whole hand is flat with pressure on the floor. I do not jump back yet I just place my feet one by one towards the back of my mat – I’m still in discovery mode. Jump-backs usually start at Suryanamaskara B.
My breath is what determines the speed of these movements and by the third suryanamaskara I’m pretty much connecting to what is going on with my body. As I breathe at sat (sixth) position, Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog), I am usually breathing at a tempo that is where I want to be. My breath is audible, slow, deep, and relaxed. I’m not thinking just breathing and enjoying the peace that that brings. In this position I am also pushing into my spread fingers, trying to pull my shoulders towards my waste (trying is a good word – my shoulders are always an issue), engaging my legs, scooping in my belly, and looking towards my navel. With all this going on plus whatever else is going on in my life I am still able to find the calmness that my breath provides.
The second asana is Navasana (boat pose) and is about half way through the primary series. It’s not an asana I enjoy doing probably because it informs me how MS is affecting me. It’s the first asana that requires my legs to be lifted up off the mat. MRI scanning indicates that my cervical spine channel is narrowing due to MS. This shows up in my legs and is reflected in this asana. It’s getting harder for me to do this asana. You are required to repeat it five times; if I’m doing good I can do all five with legs bent – legs are supposed to be straight but this is the best I can do.
The third asana, which I happen to love, is the last Pascimattanasana after Urdhva Danurasana (backbend). This is basically the end of the primary series before the closing asanas. For me it’s an opportunity to relax, enjoy my own body heat, and my own sweat. It’s even better if I get an assist in this asana as it takes me deeper. To be folded over, stretched, feeling my own body heat, and breathing allows me to completely relax. I often stay in this asana for minutes. It’s an incredibly peaceful place for me to be. Nothing is happening nothing at all; I am content and peaceful as this is the place where my practice has brought me.
Beautiful.