Ashtanga Primary Series Standing Asanas

 The Standing Sequence

"Seeking the Balance"

The standing sequence of the Ashtanga Primary Series  initiates weaving of one asana into the next form which K. Parrabhi Jois called "a garland of asanas."  Think of this as a sandwich; our first piece of bread is Surya Namaskara, the peanut butter is the standing sequence, the jelly is the seated sequence, and the last piece of bread the finishing sequence.  

In the standing sequence we challenge our balance and learn to understand how the forces of gravity work on our body.  In all the asanas there is an "equality of opposition where we find the greatest sense of stability and comfort." (David Swenson)  We equally root to the ground and energize upward.  Our feet establish our base and we root them deep.  From there, we can grow and expand to lengthen and lift through each asana.  Practice the asanas along with me:

https://youtu.be/CTm0xeq0IVE

The practice of yoga is a place to explore the balance in all areas of our life.  Balance is not just the ability to stay standing.  It is self awareness of where our life needs focus and structure.  Yoga can help us to create balance in a physical plane which we can then expand to our mental scope.  In my life, I am constantly trying to balance my yoga teaching and practice, my family life with my kids and husband, my household chores, and my duties to God.  Some days I do better than others.  I do know that I can always return to my my mat to renew my sense of balance.  Let me know how you feel balance, both through yoga and beyond.

Get started the right way with Yoga! Download for FREE “Top 10 List for Yoga Beginners.” Link https://yogatraveler.net/top-10-list-for-yoga-newbies

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Yoga changed my life

Image
I have always been a physical person.  I grew up dancing ballet and continued to teach ballet until I had my second child.  I participated in heavy hitting cardio classes until I was 39 weeks pregnant with my third child.  Then I had that third child: My family in 2011: Me and Pants, Bear 5 yrs, Bub 2 1/2 yrs, and Josh You see that happy looking family?  What is really going on with the sweet mom there? I always struggled a bit with postpartum depression and my third pregnancy rocked me.  Since Josh and I were outnumbered, I felt that I had to stop doing anything for "me." I felt guilty for giving more attention to the baby than my other kids and I became angry and resentful.  I cried every night as the sun set.  After 10 months of these feelings, Josh finally said, "You need to get some exercise."  I remember looking at him like, "how is that even an option?"  I felt that I needed permission to take care of myself.  I could not fathom dragging mys
Read more

Insight for Deployment from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Image
 Written 8/9/2020 My husband has now been on deployment for one month which does not seem monumental at all because it is not the longest he has ever been gone throughout his time in the US Air Force.  One day I will be able to say, "I have now been without my spouse longer than I ever have."  Although, I am not sure this is something to celebrate.  Even with just a month gone, I can feel the frantic pace of my life without him.  I often find myself out of balance.  I sacrifice most of my time for my yoga and my children and end up working on other things into the late hours of the night.  But the yoga I am doing is not for myself, it is for my clients.  This does give me satisfaction as I enjoy the creativity and service I feel when I teach, but I find myself wanting solace for my own soul through my yoga practice.  I decided to go back to the book, to find some insight from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.   When people hear the word yoga, they think of physical movements to s
Read more

Top 10 Tips for Surviving Deployment

Image
Written 12/13/2020 Deployment- A word we  dread.  We all hope that it will not happen, but inevitably, the world we live in will place us in a deployment.  All of a sudden you find yourself a single parent who shoulders all the tasks of the household (housekeeper, taxi driver, teacher, unpaid shopper) and all the emotions of loss, loneliness, anger, anxiety, and exhaustion.  Then you have to deal with your kids emotions and be strong for them. It all sounds like too much!  But then you start to talk to women who have been there before.  You learn some survival skills and you find a new normal.  Here is how I survived our first deployment: 1. Do Yoga - Yoga is huge part of my life.  If you would like yoga to help you like it has helped me, I have developed a program for you, Yoga for Deployment .  But if yoga is not for you- just pick something to move you physically.  This will boost your endorphins which make you happy!  Positive outlets for your stress are the way to go! 2. Plan Some
Read more