A Fine Balance
Extend your energy and feel your balancing poses come to life with this Anusara sequence.
By Desiree Rumbaugh
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Students of Anusara yoga often have beautiful, awe–inspiring backbends. With their fingers spread wide and their hearts soaring, they convey immense freedom and joy—even in "baby backbends" like Cobra or Locust.
That's because Anusara founder John Friend teaches that it's not just the shape of a pose that can make it magnificent or therapeutic, but the energy and intention behind it, as well. So in addition to learning alignment, Anusara students also learn about Muscular Energy (hugging the muscles to the bones) and Organic Energy (extending energy out).
This month's sequence eases you gracefully and playfully into Vasisthasana (Side Plank Pose), a pose that combines an arm balance with a backbend. It also enables you to work with the two types of energy. "By first engaging your muscles and drawing your energy in, you'll be strong in the outward expression, reaching far beyond your perceived boundaries or limitations," says Desiree Rumbaugh, an Anusara teacher based in Scottsdale, Arizona, who created this sequence. "Even if you can't get into the full pose today, the variation allows you to taste the richness and freedom that happen when you infuse an asana with your energy. "
before you begin
Breathing and Meditation
Sit in a comfortable cross-legged position. Using both hands, grasp your thighs and turn them inward, one at a time, and then place your hands, palms facing down, on your legs. Slide your hands toward your waist to create ease in the neck and shoulders. Take 10 full breaths.
Invocation
Chant Om or
an invocation of your choice.
WarmUp
Begin by stretching and breathing, either sitting
or standing.
Before the sequence
Do Reclining Hand–to–Big–Toe Pose. Then do Standing
Forward Bend, with the balls
of your feet on a rolled–up blanket and your heels on the floor. Do 5 Sun Salutations. Then
integrate the action of your arms and shoulders by doing Handstand. Next, do standing poses like Triangle and Side Angle Pose, and seated poses like Seated Forward Bend and Head–to–Knee–Forward Bend.
Featured Sequence
Do all
10 poses, then repeat on the
second side.
After the Sequence
Do Headstand and Shoulderstand.
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