Taught by Surya Little and Linda Spackman
We found inspiration from the following two Sutras:
2.33 Vitarkabadhane pratipaksabhavanam – Twisting poses are named after ancient sages. When we twist in asana practice, we create grounding from a firm foundation and begin to cultivate movement in an opposing direction. With this intent, are we able to bring about a special kind of intelligence that stretches the limits of our individual perspective?
3.40 Samana jayat jvalanam – Mastery of the energy of digestion located in the abdomen brings the power of radiance. In asana, twists stoke and bring health to the gastric fire. Does this enable us to assimilate and digest on multiple levels of our system?
When we have trouble digesting things in our lives, when we are stagnant or feeling limited, it can be helpful to broaden our perspective through cultivating another attitude.
When we expand our horizons, don’t we lighten up?
Asana Sequence:
In seated meditation, sensitize the body by measuring and equalizing weight on right side and left side.
Sukhasana to center, right and left sides to lengthen side body
Baddhakonsana – to open groins
Navasana with hands supporting thighs, reach through heels and bring trunk to legs to intelligize samana vayu
Adho Mukha Svanasana (AMS)
Adho Mukha Virasana – to center, right and left sides, to emphasize twisting use hand to adjust turn in waist
(standing section to heat body and bring alignment from the ground up)
AMS jump to Utkatasana – low entrance
Uttanasana – to lengthen waist and hamstrings
Utthita Hasta Padangustasana – with heel at wall
Vrksasana
Garudasana – to compact hips and lift pelvic floor
Parsva Utthita Hasta Padangustasana – side lunge at wall leg bent like parsvakonasana
Tadasana w/Paschima Namaskar
Parsvottanasana – stage one with gaze forward to establish turn for pelvic alignment and extension through chest
Parsvottanasana to Parivrtta Trikonasana – hand to inside edge of foot first time, outside edge second time
(vinyasa section for fluidity)
From lunge to Parivrtta Parsvakonasana
Sit back to Ardha Matsyendrasana – bottom foot straight back
Step forward to Urdhva Prasarita Ekapadasana
Full Parivrtta Parsvakonasana – from lunge, deep full twist in stages, hand down, extend back leg, extend arm straight up, rotate from back arm pit into full pose.
(seated section to cultivate subtlety and penetrate inwards)
Sit back to Marichyasana 3 with wide leg – hold elbow around knee not cross over, intelligize movement of ribs
Virasana w/gomkhasana arms – to teach movement of wrap
Marichyasana 3 with clasp – hand at wall to bring sharpness of back ribs
Supta Baddha Konasana – flat with arms overhead, then hold shins with hands or strap to bring life to shoulder blades
AMS
(inversions to rotate around central channel)
Adho Mukha Vrksasana – exit through eka pada leaving one foot on the wall as long as possible
Sirsasana and Parsvasirsasana
Jatara Parivartanasana – with bent legs
Supta Konasana
Parsva Halasana
Sarvangasana
(final relaxation and breath work to move towards integration)
Savasana – 2 blankets under spine, 1 for head and 1 under buttocks
Viloma 2 – interrupted exhalation, release breath out length of legs and through soles of feet
To finish practice, sit quietly and, if inclined, chant Sutras 2.33 and 3.40
