Progression in Poses

The Importance of Progression in Poses

Before anyone gets the wrong idea when I say progression, what I am really talking about is the natural progression sequence that takes us to our pose. Natural progression is when we prep our bodies for a specific pose by going through postures that benefit the primary body part used in the pose. 

This may all sound like gibberish, so I am going to give you an example. Today in class one of the students asked if we could work on ways of getting into Lotus pose. The instructor agreed and then guided us as we stretched our hamstrings, out IT bands, our glutes and our hips. We went on a journey of poses as we opened our hips, loosened our hamstrings, warmed up our IT bands and opened up our glutes. We took time, trying to listen to our bodies and heed to what the body needed to do. It was meditative, opening and centering all at the same time. 

Why didn't we just go into lotus? We could have, and knowing how my knees work, I wouldn't have been able to get both of my legs into position. (And I know I wouldn't have been the only one.) We did the natural progression sequence to guide the body into the pose instead of forcing it. What happened after the sequence was magic. Our bodies felt more fluid and malleable and the pose came much more naturally.

In my yoga practice and in my teaching I have realized how important natural progression into poses is for me. Last post I talked about how our bodies are different and have different needs each day, some days a pose may come easily and some days the pose will be impossible. Natural progression can help in both of those situations. Natural Progression can guide the body into the pose in a way that benefits the body whether the pose was already possible or not. The sequence is just as important as the destination, as it can give you the releases the pose would, if you are not able to fully get into the pose. 

Doing yoga this way requires patience and tuning into your body's needs, and in the beginning it can seem tedious. The good it can do is worth the time it takes to allow a journey into your poses instead of just doing a pose. So I say be open to a journey when you need one, you  may even learn things in the journey, who knows?

Til next time,

-Camille

P.S. I received my yoga training @ www.gobodhiyoga.com