Anusara Yoga is a heart-orientated, spiritually inspiring practice, founded in 1997 by John Friend in Houston, Texas where he created hatha yoga yet had other influences as well. Residing on the teaching of ancient hatha yoga, Anusara Yoga integrates physical posture with a heartfelt orientation to spiritual teachings that recognize we as humans are inherently good. This new approach strengthens a sense of self in the practitioner, allowing their mind, body, and spirit to work in synergy.
What is Anusara Yoga?
Anusara Yoga (“flowing with grace”)Designed to work the body into optimal alignment, Anurasara teachers aim to take students back in time and through a lighthearted journey. It enlightens technical biomechanics with the energy of opening the heart and tuning into a higher calling for the practice. As it allows for greater freedom of expression than other, more groove-oriented yoga styles, Anusara is a suitable choice for yogis of all levels.
Anusara Yoga Philosophy
Five Universal Principles of Alignment, which help students practice Anusara Yoga safely and effectively:
Open to Grace:Start each asana with an open heart and we set an intention. This is unsurprising as the manifestation of this principle is one that calls for mindfulness, breathing, and an open mind to your practice.
Muscular Energy:use the muscles to ground and intensify. This works by pulling parts away from the centerline, helping to maintain a whole structure.
Inner Spiral:This refers to the action of spinning the upper thighs inward, widening through the back body, and lengthening astray more space in your pelvis. Aids to get a good alignment and balance.
Outer Spiral:The Inner Spiral has a counter-movement that serves to ground the pelvis through the outward rotation of the legs, drawing up energetics from the leg roots and releasing downward energy from your tail to strengthen the foundation of each asana.
The Pose encourages your body to grow while moving outwards from the core, expanding and extending to let go of anything that holds you down, giving a sense of free-flowing existence; an unlimited circle surrounding everything.
Benefits of Anusara Yoga
Improves Flexibility And Strength: The alignment-based practice of Anusara Yoga promotes greater flexibility along with increased strength due to the instruction on using muscle control appropriately.
Better Posture:Through the focus on alignment, the body can correct any abnormalities or muscle imbalances, which leads to better posture and can decrease chronic pain, particularly in the back and shoulders.
Assists in Emotional Cleansing:Anusara Yoga preaches open-heartedness, meaning it is a pathway to loving oneself more by exploring this practice, and letting all emotions express, which in the end invites peace and happiness.
Decrease Stress and Anxiety:With mindful breathing, intentional movement, and positive affirmations, the nervous system becomes calmer as a result of stress and anxiety.
Increase In Mental Focus/Clarity:The combination of body awareness with heart-centered intention pours into concentration mindfulness, and overall mental focus.
Popular Anusara Yoga Poses
From L — R: Mountain Pose (Tadasana): The basic pose that makes the ground and body state clear. Lift through the top of your head and root down into your feet.
Heart Opener Pose (Anjaneyasana):This pose is a variation of a high lunge that helps you open your chest, while also stretching and releasing the hip flexors. Enact the chest opening part by extending up your chest and leaning back.
Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II): A pose that works your legs and opens up the hips. Widen your focus and line yourself up with the central axis.
Bridge Pose: This is a gentle backbend that helps to open the front of your body and can also be good for preparing for the day ahead. Use this posture to breathe in deeply and connect with your breath.
Express Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana): Strengthens and opens the side body. Make sure your torso and legs are in proper alignment so that you are targeting the right areas.
Getting Your Anusara Yoga Practice Started
ENVIRONMENT: Pick a nice quiet place big enough to get your ARMY Bombs in the air Make use of a good level Yoga mat to allow for comfort, but more importantly stability.
Set Your Intention: Start by setting your intention for this session — it could range from gratitude to self-love, or a personal goal. This ties your practice to a higher calling.
Take Time To Align:Concentrate on the alignment principles. If it makes you more comfortable, use props such as blocks or a strap that will either assist your poses or help you maintain the form of the pose.
Mindful Breathing: Anusara Yoga inculcates awareness of breath at its core. Deep rhythmic breath supports the movement of energy and each posture (cf.
Develop Self-Compassion:Take a compassionate and accepting approach to your practice. Anusara Yoga teaches you to accept what you can do and not compare yourself to others.
Ways to Have a Great Anusara Yoga Practice
Anusara Yoga follows the philosophy of listening to your body (point number 1), because everyone’s body type or ability is different, there seems to be no sense of reward or punishment within the framework. Modify poses as necessary and avoid over-extending yourself into pain.
Regular Practice:It comes with practice pubs. To get the most out of all that Anusara Yoga has to offer physically, mentally, and spiritually, practice at least a few times per week.
Meditate:Add in brief meditation sessions before or after your practice to further ground and align with yourself, bring more awareness, and enhance mindfulness.
Keep Hydrated:Drinking plenty of water is one way for your muscles to work, and it gives your body the energy needed to maintain yoga positions.
Conclusion
More than just a physical workout, Anusara Yoga offers a celebration of life supported by self-discovery. Anusara Yoga encourages practitioners to connect with their inner joy and balance through alignment, intention-setting, and a heart-centered philosophy. Anusara Yoga is a wondrous and life-changing adventure for anybody looking to either begin exploring the heart of yoga or thrive in an existing robust practice. Learn also the Science-based Yoga and fall in love with this soulful path on fitfine24 of Life to get aligned better than before with your body, heart, and spirit at Anusara Yoga.
