Back to Basics in Yoga
November 24, 2009
We all know it is important to begin with a good foundation whether it is related to education, career, hobbies, relationships, or sports. This is also true for yoga. Even though a person has studied yoga for several months or several years, it is still important to practice the basics.
As a child in the competitive gymnastics world, this concept took a while for me to understand. I wanted to keep learning new tricks and perfect new combinations. The days we practiced the “basics” seemed to be a bit boring for me. I didn’t know why I needed to train the basics and go through body positions that I already knew. I learned that it is important to remember the key points to the basics so when you do advance your skills, it will be done in the proper form. The body will inertly use the correct technique that your foundation was built upon.
Now I have a different appreciation for the basics. Especially in yoga, I enjoy a never-ending learning experience during each class. I chose to take at least one basic class a week and really pay attention to my body, alignment, and breathing. It seems to keep me balanced and centered when I attend the more advanced classes. My body remembers and feels the solid foundation of basics that I have built.
In yoga, for example, the extended triangle pose, “Utthia Trikonasana” is a basic skill that can develop into several more difficult poses. You must first learn the key points to this pose before moving on. There are several postures during the pose that are easy to forget over time.
The body position must be lifted even before beginning to move. The hips should shift the opposite way the body is extending and leaning. The upper body should remain open and straight. Sometimes a shift happens here. It does not make it “better” or more advanced when the form is sacrificed. The body may curve on the sides or lean to the front or back in order to bend down farther or the hand reaches toward the ankle creating an improper angle. It is important to keep the body parts on top of each other. Pretend there is a wall in front of you and behind you and this can alleviate forward leaning.
It is a triangle and all sides of the body should remain straight and extended. Many times this is what is forgotten. Begin by lifting thru the crown of the head as if a string is lengthening the body upwards. From that movement the sides should remain straight, and the angle between the hip and the side should be about 90 degrees, like in a triangle.
Once this becomes a comfortable move, it is fine to advance to another form. It could be a revolved triangle pose, which has a twist in the torso. A revolved bound triangle pose adds one more level of difficulty by joining the hands together behind the back and looking towards the sky.
It is important to remember the basics and practice the basics. Beginning with a solid foundation can make for steady and proper advances. Instead of rushing to learn the next move, enjoy the process and the moment you are in. Namaste.
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