How to Apply the Organic Energy Principle in Anusara Yoga

Anusara Yoga, a modern school of Yoga initiated by John Friend, follows the Hatha Yoga path to God consciousness. Anusara means “flowing with grace,” “going with the flow” or “following your heart”). Anusara Yoga poses incorporate the Universal Principles of Alignment, of which the five main alignment principles are: Opening to Grace, Muscular Energy, Inner Spiral, Outer Spiral and Organic Energy. Each principle appears in sequence in each pose. In every pose, each principle forms a base for the next. Infuse every pose with meaningful intention that is related to the "grand purposes of yoga," which include awareness of the inherent goodness of one's being and aligning with the Divine.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Yoga mat
• Comfortable clothing

1. 

   Set your mind for your practice, and recite the Anusara Yoga opening invocation (Gate Latch Asana) in either Sanskrit or English. Sanskrit:Om Namah Shivaya GuraveSaccidananda MurtayeNisprapancaya ShantayaNiralambaya TejaseEnglish :I offer myself to the Light of Pure Awarenesss, who is the True Teacherwithin and without ( the teacher of all teachers),Who assumes the forms of Reality, Consciousness and Bliss,Who is never absent and is full of peace,Independent in its existence,It is the vital essence of illumination.

2. 

   Begin with the intention to align your whole being with Supreme Consciousness. Approach the practice with "soft-hearted devotion." This is the First Universal Principle, "Opening to Grace."

3. 

   Maintain "Opening to Grace" and follow the Universal Principles in order: Muscular Energy, Inner Spiral, Outer Spiral and Organic Energy principles. The five steps of the Universal Principles are:1) Setting the foundation and opening to grace2) Engaging muscular energy by hugging the muscles to the bones and drawing this energy into the focal point in the core of the body3) Creating an expanding spiral that opens the back of the body4) Creating a contracting spiral that balances the expanding spiral and increases stability5) Extending organic energy out from the focal point.

4. 

   Understand the four Universal Principles in action:1) Muscular Energy draws energy from the body's outer region into a Focal Point. Muscular Energy creates stability, strength and physical integration. 2) The Inner Spiral expands energy from center outward. Its path is up from the feet, through the pelvis and into the waist region. Precise leg, thigh and pelvic movements accompany.3) The Outer Spiral involves narrowing spiral movements inward to your core. Its path is from the waist through the tail bone, out through the legs and feet. The Outer Spiral also includes precise movements.4) Organic Energy extends outward from the focal point through the core to the periphery. Expansion, flexibility and freedom in the pose increase.

5. Practice your asanas. There are over 250 Anusara Yoga asanas, including standing poses, backbends, forward bends, twists, hand-balancings, inversions and restoratives. Through repetition of basic poses, practitioners experience application of the Universal Principles.

6. Understand the difference between muscular energy and organic energy. Muscular energy and organic energy are complementary forces, reflecting the universal pulsation of contraction and expansion of life in the body. Muscular energy corresponds to the inhale and draws the various parts of the outer body closer together with consciously integration. Organic energy creates freedom of movement in the joints and reflects the spirit's light shining throughout the body. Organic energy corresponds to an exhale and is an unfolding energy that creates expansion, length and breadth. Whereas muscular energy moves from the surface of the body and ends of the limbs toward the core, organic energy moves outward from the focal point.

Tips & Warnings

• A focal point is a localized spot in the body, such as the core of the pelvis, the bottom of the heart and the upper palate. Only one focal point applies to a pose.
• Engage with the guidance of a certified Anusara Yoga practitioner.
• Consult your health practitioner to verify that you can practice Anusara Yoga safely.

Resources

• Wikipedia Anusara Yoga article
• John Friend's Anusara Yoga site
• Examples and instructions for Anusara poses

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[ginaminyard]

on 4/6/2009 Please ignore the above comment...And Greetings from the Anusara office! Thank you for writing this article about Anusara yoga. I have some questions for you about it. Please contact me at your convenience at [e-mail].

[ginaminyard]

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