Elise Koomen
2/29/12
Lesley University
Yoga: Culture, Theory and Practice
Professor Laura L. Douglas
Anusara Yoga: Celebration of the Heart
Introduction
Anusara yoga was
founded by John Friend in 1997. It
has roots Hatha yoga, but brings more focus on alignment of the body and the
heart. “Anusara is accepting the
world and ourselves as we are and then responding with love” (Friend, 2009.) By focusing on the Three A’s of Anusara:
yoga, attitude, alignment and action, the practice cultivates and strengthens
the mind, body and spirit. Principles
like celebration, joy, relationships and mindfulness make practicing Anusara
both enlightening and fun.
I chose to do my
yoga practice at a small center in Newburyport, Massachusetts, simply named The
Yoga Center. As I entered the
studio to begin my Anusara-inspired practice, I was struck by the warmth of the
small studio; the space was filled with potted plants and warm lights. The people I met had this same warmth
about them. John Friend in his
book about Anusara yoga practice describes the Anusara community as having “the
tightness of a family, yet looseness of a merry band of bohemian artists.” Through these people I learned that joy,
as well as the relationships with others and yourself, are essential parts of
Anusara yoga.
Relationships
I had always seen yoga as a solitary
practice, something that you do with your own body that only affects your own
body. However, I soon learned how
important relationships are in Anusara yoga. The teacher, Rose talked to each member of the class by name
and with the warmness and familiarity of a friend. She shared personal anecdotes which added to the friendliness
and feeling of intimacy in the studio.
Anusara Yoga holds that everything and
everyone is in relationship with each other. Just as you have a relationship with your family and friends,
your legs have a relationship with your core and your body has a relationship
to your mind and emotions (Fisher, 2008.) As humans, we are social beings; when you isolate yourself
from others, you are diminishing your own awareness and heart. When you work together, combining and
sharing with others continue; you grow and allow yourself and others to
experience the beauty and joy found everywhere (Fisher, 2008.) It makes sense to practice yoga
in such a warm and welcoming setting. I was comfortable and at ease and because of that I could
focus on sensation in my body and mind as I delved into this new experience.
Celebrating individuality
Having
a limited amount of Yoga experience, I was apprehensive about taking a class at
a “serious” yoga studio. I worried
that I would stick out among the more advanced yogis in the class. However, I was able to relax right away
as I saw the diversity in age and level in the small class. In Anusara practice the uniqueness of
each student is realized and celebrated. Instead of having one “norm” that everyone is required to
conform to, the strengths and limitations of each student are honored. As an Anusara teacher, you do not want
to correct the students, but enhance the beauty already present in the students’
poses. Friend speaks about the
importance of limitations claiming that it is through limitations of the body
and mind that we discover our nature is “boundless goodness” (Friend, 2009.) I have never entered a learning
environment where I was told that in my nature I was already boundlessly good,
but this attitude carried on throughout the class. In fact, no one ever called it a “class,” and the instructor,
Rose, did not come across as an authority. It struck me when Rose ended the session by saying, “Thank
you for sharing your practice with me.” This implied not only equality within the class but
also that we had all come together to learn, to practice. There was no finite goal of a perfect or
difficult pose. I got the sense
that I was not meeting with this instructor to learn the right and wrong things
to do, we were simply all practicing together. In fact yoga is viewed as a co-participation with God or the
supreme; there is no act of domination or control, but, rather, a healthy,
balanced relationship (Friend, 2009.)
The Three A’s
The three A’s, attitude, alignment and
action, are the foundation of Anusara yoga. Attitude is the
based on the heart. It is the
power of the heart as the force behind every pose and action. It is expressed in celebration of life,
relationships with others, and the cultivation of joy. Alignment
is the awareness of how every part of ourselves is connected. It is not only expressed in the body,
but in the intellect, because it requires mindfulness about what your body is
doing. The third is action, which is the flow of energy
through the body. This energy is
natural and creates natural movement. Movement brings the body both stability and “joyful freedom”
(Friend, 2009.)
Together the three A’s represent the
foundation of Anusara yoga: heart (attitude,) Mind (alignment) and body
(action.) The yogi’s action
through the body expresses his heart and attitude through the alignment of mind
and body. The foundation is essential
in yoga practice; it is what makes yoga different from stretching or exercise. The goal of stretching is to increase
flexibility and mobility. The
practice of Yoga through the heart, mind, and body is an ongoing journey
benefitting all parts of the person (Friend, 2009.) I was surprised
to learn that yoga is not just a series of physical poses but instead an
integration of mind, body and spirit.
Awareness of body
Rose began the practice by stating that
she had survived cancer three times. She talked about the Anusara yoga that she does with cancer
patients and how the fundamental idea of this practice is that “your body is
your body.” It is essential for
cancer patients to take back control over their bodies; Rose explained that a
doctor who has read your chart 15 minutes ago does not know more about your
body than you do. The basic
message was that there is a strength and power that comes from being fully
present in your body; this strength may help you fight cancer or it may help
you get through a stressful day.
This
brings a new meaning to the idea of alignment. Mindfully being a part of the interconnectedness in your body
is a source of energy and peace. The
poses combined with breathing to assist us in becoming fully present in our
bodies. By bringing awareness to
each part of the body, each sensation was a way of fully and mindfully
inhabiting our bodies.
Conclusion
As the founder of Anusara yoga, John
Friend said, “ Anusara is accepting the world and ourselves as we are, and then
responding with love” (Friend, 2009.) This means that we [you] are willing to be mindful and aware
of every part of ourselves, the good parts, the bad parts, the parts that
depend on others, and the parts that may be sick or weak. It is through this mindfulness that we
find ownership of our body, love in our attitude, and alignment of our mind,
body and spirit. Anusara Yoga is
truly a heart-oriented celebration. Through mindful awareness you are reconnecting with your
innate goodness and beauty. Relationships with others and within yourself are reminders
that life is to be celebrated and beauty is found everywhere.
WORKS
CITED
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