ASANA in Yoga Therapy

ASANA IN YOGA THERAPY

The process of getting into an asana occurs in stages: getting into a pose, staying in it, and coming out of it, with awareness of the body’s pain sensations.

Be mindful of the two types of pain: one which indicates some sort of injury or inflammation which is telling the body to stop, and the other which can arise from inactivity and stiffness, and which you can breathe into to release the pain and stiffness.

• Do not progress, or force the stretch, if you feel pain that arises from injury, inflammation, or if your breath gets interrupted.
• Keep focusing on your breath. With this focus, your breathing will eventually slow down and become effortless breathing.
• Aim to take 5 to 10 effortless breaths per pose, allowing the exhalation to be slightly longer than the inhalation.

GROUND, Bhumi

Begin with the level of comfort that your body needs. It is very important to begin from a position that feels comfortable for you.

BEGINNING, Arambha

In the first phase of the pose, when you open up to a stretch, your opposing muscles start to contract. Remember to be fully present.

STABILITY, Sthiti

After a short while, after entering into a pose and holding it, your activated muscles will begin to relax, initially causing fasciculation or twitching, and then they will become steady.

SURRENDER, Visharjana

The next stage of your muscle condition occurs whilst you are holding the yoga pose for a long time, with awareness and effortless breathing. This is where profound relaxation takes place. Here, it’s much more about ‘undoing’ than ‘doing’. Stretching now becomes a relaxation of the contractions that create knots in the body (granthis), which block flow.

This process awakens a relaxation response, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system and triggers an endorphin release.

Are you interested in continuing to learn about Yoga and Yoga therapy? Would you like to make Yoga YOUR LIFE, and teach it to others?
Click below to start. The link will take you to an article on Health Institute Australasia: