Find the metaphor hidden within the yoga practice

A S A N A
M Y T H O L O G Y
V O L . 1

written by
Harmony Slater
Titibhasana
This pose is sometimes referred to as "firefly" or "insect" pose, but the
actual translation of this asana is named after a small bird that lives along
the coastal regions of India.
Have you ever wondered why so many postures are named after animals
within the yoga tradition?
One answer that a modern Indian Sage once told me, was that when
each asana is practiced regularly, the position the body makes starts to
untie the knotted "vasanas" (karmic imprints or behavioral tendencies)
found hidden within our mental and emotional self. These vasanas
accumulate from our past life impressions. This is one explaination for
the idea that our unconscious mind is affected by every birth we have
ever taken. It is a natural process of Consciousness or the evolution of a
transmigrating soul on its way through space and time to attain
Awakening and Liberation.
The asanas that resemble different animals are targeted to loosen
those specific knots associated with our lower tendencies that continue to
impact and effect our behaviours in this current life.
Utthita Parsvakonasana B
This posture is also sometimes called Parivrtta Parsvakonasana
"Revolving Side-Angle Pose." This asana is the second spinal rotation
in the Primary Series. It is a powerful twist that develops the
integration of breath and bandha together. A challenging posture for
sure, especially if you move into the completed twisted position
without lifting your back heel and on a single exhalation.
The development of 'mula bandha' and 'uddiyana bandha' will greatly
assist in creating an unrestricted flow of breath as you hold and
deepen this posture.

Revolve into the unknown and look up to the heavens. See if you can
catch a glimpse of Lord Indra riding on the back of his white elephant,
brandishing a thunder bolt, as he marches through the clouds. Indra
bestows light and power and ignites the inner fire of prana.
Prasarita Padottanasana A
This asana is translated as "Spread Out Foot Intense Stretch." The full
expression of this posture has the hands shoulder distance apart and
the feet, fingers, and top of the head all in a line, while the head presses
firmly into the earth between the hands.
"Prithvi" is the Sanskrit name for the earth, and also one name for the
mother goddess. She is known for her nurturing, supportive, and
bountiful nature. She is intimately connected to "Dyaus," the god of the
sky. Heaven fertilizes earth with rain, and together, they support and
nourish all life on this planet. The earth and sky are the eternal parents
to every living being.
This asana encourages us to dig into the earth with all of our limbs and
cultivate gratitude for our life and the fertile land that we inhabit.
Likewise, the practice of yoga encourages us to dig into the depth of our
own body and mind, to find what hidden treasures we might uncover
and open ourselves up to a new way of being.
Bakasana
This position translates in English as the "Crane Posture." The crane
is a long-legged and long-necked bird with a streamlined body and
large rounded wings. This posture is an Intermediate Series asana
and is to be done with straight arms and feet together, resembling the
image of the bird about to take off in flight.
Cranes form monogamous life-long bonds making them a symbol of
fidelity, loyalty and success. In many Asian cultures they also
represent good fortune, healing, happiness, and longevity due to their
legendarily long life spans. They are the also the world's tallest flying
bird.
The first Sanskrit verse ever uttered by the great sage Valmiki was
inspired upon the death of crane. It is said that the sage witnessed a
hunter shoot and kill the male of the couple while relaxing by a river.
Observing the lovelorn female crying, Valmiki cursed the hunter:

"You will find no rest for the long years of eternity, for you have killed
a bird in love and unsuspecting."
Garbha Pindasana
In Sanskrit, Garbha means "womb" and Pinda translates as "embryo."
Together these two words form the English name of the asana:
"Embryo-in-Womb-Posture."
When I was first introduced to this posture, I was told to roll 9 times
representing 9 months in the womb. However, in led Primary Series
classes, Pattabhi Jois and Sharath Jois would only count to five during
the rolling part of this posture.
Once a student asked Sharath, "Should we roll 9 times or 5 times?"
Sharath laughed and said, "Five is enough, but roll as many times as it
takes you to get around."
Just like that: pragmatic and simple. No story or myth, just do what you
need to do and get on with it. This advice always seemed to me to
reflect their inherent approach to the practice: Keep it simple.
story or myth - just do what you need to do and get on with it. Kind of
like the practice. Keep it simple.text
 Gomukhasana
The name of this posture translates as "Cow-Face-Pose" and it has two
variations in the Ashtanga Yoga Intermediate Series. The first turns
your focus inward and the second teaches you to maintain your inward
attention while extending your heart and gaze up and out.
At times, I have felt like I was in direct communion with God while
practicing this posture. It is a beautiful metaphor of worship and how
we are to be as yoga practitioners in life: Inwardly aware at all times
sustaining that steady connection to our Center and Source.

In the Indian culture, people regard all living creatures as sacred. There
is a particularly deep reverence for the cow, who is thought to be a
gentle animal, giving back more than she takes. She is a symbol of the
Earth, Grace, Abundance, and the Prana that nourishes all beings.
The Sanskrit word गो "Go" can mean both "cow" and "light" while the
word मुख "Mukha" means "head, face, or mouth." Consequently,
Gomukha may also, more esoterically, refer to the inner light that
radiates from the head or face of one who is established in yoga.
 Vatayanasana
In Sanskrit, vata means "wind" and yana refers to a "vehicle."
The composite word "vatayana" can then translate as either "wind-
passage" or "window" also "wind vehicle" or "moving in the wind" and
"horse" because a horse can move like the wind. This is often why it
gets translated as "Horse Pose" from the Sanskrit.

To raise the body utilizing the muscles of only one leg makes this
asana more difficult than it might appear upon first glance. The arms
are used both to create balance and to guide the upward movement. If
you watch someone get into this position you can see how the arms act
a bit like wings and are used to help raise the body in a way that is
similar to the wings of a Pegasus taking off.
As you practice this posture, you can discover the inner Vayu or the
"Lord of the Wind" moving directly through the center of your being. As
you extend your finger tips and lift your heart upwards, you become a
window for this energy to move out up into the heavens. It is a posture
that takes your consciousness deep into your inner core and increases
your focus and concentration.
 Marichyasana A
This asana is dedicated to the ancient Sage Marichi. He is a semi-
divine figure who is not well describe in any myth or legend, and
thus, he is quite the enigma. The Sanskrit word Marichi, literally
translates to "Ray of light." When Brahma, the creator deity,
manifested the earth, he sent the light down to become living beings.
Marichi is one of the first to exist. He is counted amongst the seven
great Rishis (seers) who are believed to be the most evolved 'light
beings' ever created and guardians of the divine laws of the
Universe.
Sage Marichi is best known through his descendants, being that he
is the grandfather of Vamana (the dwarf) also called Trivikrama, who
is the fifth avatar of Vishnu.
This group of postures has a strong rooting action and cultivates a
deep sense of reverence towards the Earth. We experience this
grounding action especially in the first and second variations (A & B)
as well as in fifth and seventh variations (E & G) that are found in the
Fourth Series of the Ashtanga Yoga sequence.
In these postures, the whole body is bowing down and the head or
chin is touching the floor. In the "A" variation (shown above) the
head touches the extended leg, which is actively engaged, and as a
result it presses into the ground and we feel directly connected to the
Earth's energy.
 Urdhva Dhanurasana
In English, this translates as: “Upward Bow Posture.” I’m always reminded
of the great Indian Epic the Ramayana whenever I practice any of the “bow”
postures and the story of the Shiva Dhanush, the "Divine Bow of Shiva."
This particular bow was given by Shiva to an ancestor of King Janaka. It
was said that no ordinary human could lift it, nor could a selfish person even
approach it.
King Janaka had adopted a daughter named Sita (an avatar of Lakshmi, the
goddess of wealth and wife of Vishnu) who when she was a small girl
playing with her sisters lifted the table upon which the bow had been
placed. This was something that no other human in the kingdom could do,
so Janaka realized immediately that she was not an ordinary girl.
When it came time for King Janaka to find a suitable husband for Sita he
knew she would need to find an extraordinary man, so he devised a test:
Sita would marry the man who could lift Shiva's Bow, string it, and
shoot an arrow from it.
Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, and the crown Prince of Ayodhya, comes to the
contest. He not only lifts the bow, but strings it so tightly that the bow breaks
in half! This feat of strength spreads his fame across the kingdoms and
seals his marriage to Sita. Literally, it is a match made in Heaven!
 Purna Matsyendrasana
This posture translates as the "Full Posture of Matsyendra." Matsyendra
means "Fish Lord." One day a small boy overhears Shiva in a private
conversation, revealing all the secrets of Ultimate Reality to his beloved
consort Parvati. He explains to her the discipline for unleashing true
spiritual power and calls it "Yoga." When Shiva realizes that his
conversation has been overheard by another, he blesses the boy and
names him "Matsyendra." He then encourages the boy to begin practicing
all of which he heard and after many years Matsyendra grows up to
become the world's first teacher of Hatha Yoga.

Twisting symbolizes revolving; turning our consciousness back in upon

itself, offering a light into the darkness and bringing what's hidden into the
light. This process is essential to the practice of yoga. Yoga is a
systematic way of purifying the body to liberate the mind.

~ Om ~
"From ignorance, lead me to truth;

From darkness, lead me to light; 
From death, lead me to immortality
"
~ Om ~ peace, peace, peace ~
 About Harmony
Harmony first journeyed to Mysore in 2004 to study with the Jois
family. She received Authorization to teach directly from Pattabhi Jois
and after twelve consecutive years of study was given Certification
from Sharath Jois in 2015. She is one of the few women in the world
to hold this honor. Harmony has a strong presence in our Asthanga
community. She founded two traditional Mysore programs, one called
Ashtanga Yoga Victoria, and the other, The Calgary Ashtanga Yoga
School. She has shared her experiences with the practice, pregnancy
and childbirth in the books Yoga Sadhana for Mothers and Strength
and Grace: A collection of Essays by Women of Ashtanga Yoga.

She has a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to share with each

one of us about the practice of yoga both on and off the mat, and
gives abundently in the workshops she teaches all around the world.

Website Link: HARMONY SLATER YOGA

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