Alexandria Crow: Why You Should Teach Anatomy and Alignment in YogaBy Yoga Journal By Yoga Journal Anyone who knows me knows I teach alignment -- a lot of it. Actually, a lot doesnt begin to cover it. I am anatomically focused and driven to try to understand how the body functions mechanically (as evidenced by my Alignment CuesBy Yoga Journal By Yoga Journal Anyone who knows me knows I teach alignment -- a lot of it. Actually, a lot doesnt begin to cover it. I am anatomically focused and driven to try to understand how the body functions mechanically (as evidenced by my Alignment Cues Decoded series on YogaJournal). Patanjali never said anything about anatomy or alignment, though. So why bother? I actually have two very specific reasons for teaching alignment and anatomy; one is practical and one is embedded within the philosophy of the Yoga Sutra.The Practical Reason for Teaching Alignment in Yoga When I began my physical yoga asana practice, I had no idea that it was a philosophy that would change my life. I felt something within me was different on my yoga mat than in other sports and activities Id done, but it took years for me to figure out what. I thought yoga was a physical exercise, a sport, or acrobatics. And until the deeper levels are unlocked, thats what many people think. And thats OK! But if thats the case, as a teacher, I must treat the poses somewhat as a sport, using the kind of wisdom a physical therapist, coach, or trainer would. Each body is different and has its own individual work and ease. There is no one-size-fits-all alignment and no one-size-fits-all pose. But over time I found I could address all limitations simultaneously in a public class by identifying alignment priorities for students. Then by giving them progressive steps, based on anatomical principles and muscular efforts, toward the peak pose, I allowed them to decide in the moment if the next step was doable in keeping with the priorities. This method gives students a step-by-step path from the simple to the seemingly unachievable pose. It also limits their risk of injury to the very best of my ability. People will get hurt. They will mistakenly make choices that injure them. Ive done it myself. But at the end of the day, part of this practice is about learning the difference between discomfort and harmful pain and its my job to stop the harmful pain as best I can.The Philosophical Reasons for Teaching Asana Alignment The first sutra -- yoga is now -- is what changed my life and is what I see transform my students lives too. But it is difficult to be here now, clearly and wisely, to shed attachment to perpetually harmful patterns of behavior and thought, and to become kinder and more at ease with yourself and the world. To live by this philosophy, we need to find a tool and then to use that tool -- over and over and over. That repeated use, or practice, will lead to progress. The tool most of us begin with and continue with is asana. The Sutra really only mentions asana to say that what qualifies as asana is a balance of effort and ease, or steadiness and release, a pairing of opposites. Thats it. Patanjali doesnt say anything about Warrior II, or Triangle, or Handstand, or how those poses are to be aligned. If thats the case, then how does this asana thing we all teach and practice qualify as yoga?The Yoga Sutra That Informs Asana InstructionSutra 2.1 has informed how and why I teach the way I do from day one: Tapah Svadyaya Isvarapranadhnani Kriya Yoga. I translate that sutra as something like: Choose to do difficult work -- often the opposite of your initial impulse -- that you know will get you to a better place; pay attention to whether the work is beneficial or if its injurious and make wise choices toward the former; surrender to the process, knowing that the work leads to a life of less suffering and more ease. My teacher taught me that these principles can not only inform the teaching of asana but also make it a complete yoga practice without needing to add esoteric things that I wasnt ready to discuss in a clear and simple way yet. I was taught to learn anatomy on a deep level, teach alignment very well, teach students to make wise choices in the moment about props and modifications, teach them to work hard, to stay present, and to surrender to the process, rather than focusing on the end result. I explain that the final pose they see in pictures doesnt matter, that achieving the very simplest variation of that pose with effort and then building upon it over time will eventually lead them to exactly where they should be. I cant teach them about effort without alignment, and if theres no effort, according to sutra 2.1, its not asana. Alignment is the building block of how to safely approach each pose each day in the present moment. If I add to that hard work the ease of breath and the letting go of any disappointment or judgment around achievements, I am teaching asana as Patanjali defines it. Plus, by pairing those two philosophies -- effort/ease and wise decision-making -- I aim to get people to pay attention to the now. In doing that, they are really practicing yoga, using alignment as their tool.About Alexandria Crow The practice of yoga has taught Alexandria Crow how to approach life with open eyes and a fearless attitude -- a discovery she hopes to pass onto her students. She guides her students step by step through creative sequences providing all of the components needed for each individual to feel successful. By teaching not only alignment but also how to pay attention to what is going on in the body and mind in each moment, lex teaches her students how to bring greater awareness to everything they do.See also How to Teach Your Students Anatomy on YogaJournal. facebook/pages/p/225252027684392
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 21:56:34 +0000
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