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Have you ever gone to a yoga class that was a bit more difficult than your skill/energy level could handle for that day? You knew that you could do the class but something that day just wasn’t clicking. What did you do? Did you kick yourself into overdrive in order to keep up with the rest of the class? Panting and striving to keep up with the class, would you finally stand up in Virabhadrasana 1 while everyone was already on the way down into Chaturanga Dandasana? Maybe you even took child’s pose to give yourself some rest and catch your breath while the class moved on? Or did you give up and stealthily pack your things up and silently slink out of the class? I have done both of these things and I consider the latter course of action to be the better choice. It is always better to leave the class than to risk injury.
In our home practice, though, we are the instructor and practitioner. It is up to the individual to determine the correct amount of energy or effort to apply to any given pose. This is a big responsibility, as applying too much effort risks injury while not applying enough effort will give you a dull practice. So how much energy or effort should we apply to our practice? In the Yoga Sutras (II, 46) Patanjali says, "Sthiram-sukham asanam," which roughly translates to “There should be comfort and stability in each pose.” In each and every pose we should put as much energy as it takes to maintain steadiness and ease. Memorize these words and repeat them to yourself during your next practice. Ask yourself “Am I at ease in this pose? Am I steady in this pose?” There should be a regular interrogation of your body by your mind while practicing. For example, if you are in Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Fold), determine how much effort you need in order to practice that posture. Forget about the practice where you almost touched your nose to your knee. Equally, forget about the practice where your hamstrings were so tight that you could barely reach your toes. Stay in the moment. Stay in the now. Stay aware of what is going on inside. This way you will always know how much effort is needed and you will know what it takes to maintain “steadiness and ease” in any pose.
I would urge my readers to play with the poses. That is, while you are in a pose practice first with very little effort. Relax your mind and your body will relax. Be mentally lazy with the pose. Then try the same pose with lots of effort. Maintain a watchful eye on your alignment, your breathing, the positions of your hands and feet, etc. Energetically pour yourself into every corner of your body. The differences between the two methods should be noticeable. The key is to find the place of medium effort where you use only the effort needed to hold the pose with sthira and sukha (steadiness and ease). This is always being determined because the body is always in a state of flux. I can only urge all my readers to be mindful during every practice. Injuries may happen but as you progress you will hopefully come to know how to gauge your energy level, how to apply medium effort into your practice.
Be mindful. Be safe. Happy exploring!
In our home practice, though, we are the instructor and practitioner. It is up to the individual to determine the correct amount of energy or effort to apply to any given pose. This is a big responsibility, as applying too much effort risks injury while not applying enough effort will give you a dull practice. So how much energy or effort should we apply to our practice? In the Yoga Sutras (II, 46) Patanjali says, "Sthiram-sukham asanam," which roughly translates to “There should be comfort and stability in each pose.” In each and every pose we should put as much energy as it takes to maintain steadiness and ease. Memorize these words and repeat them to yourself during your next practice. Ask yourself “Am I at ease in this pose? Am I steady in this pose?” There should be a regular interrogation of your body by your mind while practicing. For example, if you are in Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Fold), determine how much effort you need in order to practice that posture. Forget about the practice where you almost touched your nose to your knee. Equally, forget about the practice where your hamstrings were so tight that you could barely reach your toes. Stay in the moment. Stay in the now. Stay aware of what is going on inside. This way you will always know how much effort is needed and you will know what it takes to maintain “steadiness and ease” in any pose.
I would urge my readers to play with the poses. That is, while you are in a pose practice first with very little effort. Relax your mind and your body will relax. Be mentally lazy with the pose. Then try the same pose with lots of effort. Maintain a watchful eye on your alignment, your breathing, the positions of your hands and feet, etc. Energetically pour yourself into every corner of your body. The differences between the two methods should be noticeable. The key is to find the place of medium effort where you use only the effort needed to hold the pose with sthira and sukha (steadiness and ease). This is always being determined because the body is always in a state of flux. I can only urge all my readers to be mindful during every practice. Injuries may happen but as you progress you will hopefully come to know how to gauge your energy level, how to apply medium effort into your practice.
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