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Dear Friends,
This week, we will be focusing on the first principle
of Anusara Yoga opening to grace. What is grace anyway? At first, it may seem
like an abstract concept, but really, it is part of everyone's experience.
Grace is that intangible, magical sense of ease and freedom that we feel when
we are in our element, when we are joyful and feeling content. Grace is what
is revealed in beautiful works of art and through the diversity of nature's
expression. Grace expresses herself through us most fully when we come from
a place of sincerity and truth - when we create an honest intention to align
with her flow and share her gifts with others.
In
Anusara Yoga, the first moment in a pose is one of aligning the
spirit, our heart's intention, as well as the physical body. Before
we make any physical effort, we inwardly soften our sense of individual
'doership', which can create tension and limit our experience. When
we open to grace, we invite the greater force that supports our
efforts to flow through us by allowing our sense of boundaries,
limitation and separateness to soften and melt away. Through this
softening, we affirm our worthiness, our ability to create, and
a willingness to receive the gifts of grace. This literally expands
our possibilities for growth and awakening of body and spirit.
In asana practice, we manifest
this balance of worthiness and humilityin many ways. "Opening
to grace" is associated in Anusara Yoga with the action of
"kidney loop", which creates a deeper connection to the
back of the body, specifically in the area of the kidneys at the
lower back. The back of the body can be thought of metaphorically
as our universal
self, our shared experience, which provides our sense of connection,
belonging, humanity and compassion.
Open to grace every time you set the foundation for a
new posture in your practice. Soften your face, go to your breath, find your
center and get ready to surprise yourself.
TIP: In standing poses, one great way to connect with the back body in asana is to "bow in" as if to look into your own heart, soften the front ribs, and breathe into the lower back. Notice when you do this how the lower back fills up and expands ? keeping that broadening in the back body, bring the shoulders and head back into line with the hips.
Best,
Elissa Gumushel
Affiliated Anusara Yoga Instructor
www.vankula.com
