CONTAINING ENERGY

CONTAINING ENERGY

How do we safely guide our bodies into challenging yoga poses when we’re fatigued or lacking in energy? 

My thoughts on this subject are as follows: 

We need to use our bodies as a container – to harness the prana, the energy in each pose we undertake.  As a beginner or student with less than five years experience on the mat, it is valuable to recognise the subtleties and nuances that each pose presents.  Bear in mind our body’s alignment on the mat.  It is important to keep our joints stacked one on top of the other to experience minimal stress on each joint. 

For example, in Virabadrasana 11 (Warrior 11) the intention is to lunge forward with the front knee and have the thigh come parallel to the floor (over time).  Most important here is to be sure the front knee does not extend beyond the toes and is in alignment with the ankle, nor travel inwards, tracking towards the little toe side of the foot.  The front hip stacks underneath the front shoulder joint. 

You will find that in most asanas (poses) this type of alignment of stacking the joints on top of each other helps to contain the pose and the prana contained within.  In addition, if we activate our energy locks – Moolabandha - root lock (pelvic floor muscles in & up) and Uddyanabandha - abdominal lock (tummy muscles in & up toward diaphragm), the container (our body) becomes stronger, connective tissue strengthens and muscles lengthen.

So, next time on the mat, visualise, imagine or feel your body as a container, harnessing, containing and cultivating the prana within – feel the subtle flow of energy from your practice.

Namaste - Jenni