Posted by Michele Harney, Yoga Rathgar & Dundrum – Dublin
Āsana and Movement – Lecture Notes from TKV Desikachar April 1992
The traditional model, Śikṣaṇa, for Yoga was to stay in a posture, Krishnamacharya introduced movement in the postures.
He decided that you could be in one posture and do a number of variations.
– Yoga has been adapted to life in the modern day.
– Any posture far removed from the normal posture is a problem and therefore risky if there is any problem with the body.
– Inverted postures present problems because of the tension that people carry in their necks.
– Postures that create tension should be avoided.
– Moving into the posture after the exhale is an adaptation.
Krishnamacharya designed aids to help people achieve postures.
Slow movement has a different action on the muscles, it is harder work.
The role of Āsana, its purpose and goal must be respected.
Opposite postures are a handicap but can help us to appreciate something different in a posture.
We must feel ourselves and what is happening in a posture.
Students need to be aware of which parts of the body to bring attention to, without the teachers hands to remind them; so by reminding them in another posture they will be aware of which part to move.
– Notes from TKV Desikachar’s lectures at a 6 day retreat in England in April 1992
Courtesy – Paul Harvey’s Daily Quotes – Centre for Yoga Studies
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