Each day we become a bit older and our every experience helps us grow. Your yoga practice is no different – keep challenging yourself and make changes to discover how it can evolve. Changes can be big or small, but sometimes a different perspective can drive the biggest change. Use the concept of Stira Sukha Asanam to elevate your practice today!
Stira Sukha Asanam
Regardless of the type of practice you do, you can incorporate this ancient concept from the Yoga Sutras. Stira Sukha Asanam means steady, comfortable pose. Imagine if every yoga asana pose was as easy, comfortable and relaxed as Savasana. With practice, this can become a reality.
Sukha
When you see toddlers learning how to stand or walk, have you noticed how their bodies are as stiff as a plank? They haven’t learned which muscles to activate or how much effort is required so all of the muscles work at full power and they even forget to breathe. With practice, they are able to stand firmly with ease as the muscles relax and soften.
This is the same in yoga asanas. The first time, you’re not sure what you’re doing so it feels awkward and tiring because all of the muscles are working. With practice it becomes easier and you can breathe normally.
You can speed up the time it takes to become comfortable in any asana by breathing slow and rhythmically, relaxing the body so less effort is expended and only use the muscles which are needed. With practice, you’ll even be able to relax the muscles which hold you up.
Stira
Can you stand on your feet for 30 minutes comfortably? How about 1 hour? If you answered yes, then you are capable of practicing Sirsasana (headstand) or Sarvangasana (shoulderstand) for just as long, with practice.
When you maintain physical relaxation while in your poses, you’ll be able to hold them longer because less effort is needed. Often the first 2 minutes of any pose is the most difficult as the body requires time to adjust. Once you get past this, the rest of the time is much easier. Try to hold each asana for at least 5 minutes to get more benefit. It’s only a matter of practice and knowing that it’s possible.
Active Meditation
So now you’re able to be comfortable and relaxed in your yoga asanas and are physically able to hold them for some time, but do you actually do it? Does your mind get restless and urge you to do something else?
The physical relaxation is only half the equation. Without mentally relaxing, the seconds pass like minutes and minutes feel like hours, it seems impossible to hold for 5 minutes. To counter this, use meditation techniques to calm down the mind. If you’re not familiar with meditation, bring your awareness to your breath. When the mind wanders away (and it will), gently bring it back, repeating this again and again.
In yoga or any experience, you can do big things, like making a trip to a holy land. Don’t overlook small changes as they can have just as much impact, often it’s these changes that have long-term effects. Next time you practice, incorporate the concept of Stira Sukha Asanam by breathing, and relaxing both mind and body to hold each pose. If you’re really advanced, apply this concept to the rest of your life!