"Triangle Pose Points the Way"

After reading the title of this week's blog you may be wandering, "...the way to what?" Do we want the way to financial freedom, or even freedom from pain? Do we seek to find our soul mate, to know the truth, to experience pure joy and those exalted moments of bliss? Or do we simply want to feel that all is well with our world and our life style?
Global advertising encourages us to desire material things. Maybe we want too much for ourselves and not enough for others. Since we all have wants (and even a few needs) where do they come from? This self-knowledge or education (called svadhyaya in Sanskrit) occurs during time spent alone with our Creator, who knew us before we were in our mother's womb. Read David's Psalm 139 in The Old Testament of The Holy Bible to substantiate this truth. If God knew us before we were even conceived, maybe our self study should include reading The Holy Bible, which is the most sacred and best-selling books ever written. I believe that The Bible was divinely inspired by God himself and serves as the light that guides me through life.
Even yoga masters such as B.K.S. Iyengar have read The Holy Bible. In fact, Iyengar states in the introduction to his text, Light on Yoga, "The sacred books of the world are for all to read. They are not meant for the members of one particular faith alone. As bees savour the nectar in various flowers, so the sadhaka (one who studies and seeks) absorbs things in other faiths which will enable him to appreciate his own faith better." Whether or not you are a follower of Jesus Christ, if you desire to feed your soul, that is the third, spiritual dimension of your life, spend time reading the inspired Word of God in The Holy Bible. It can't hurt and it just might help you to find your way.
You may have noticed that I referred to The Bible as the inspired Word of God," which I believe to be true, now more than ever since I believe that I am not writing this blog alone, but with the help of the Divine within me, the Holy Spirit of God. Last night before bed I knew that I wanted to continue the vinyasa flow from "Warrior II Pose" into this week's "Triangle Pose" (Utthita Trikonasana) but I had no idea exactly what I was going to say about the spiritual dimension of the pose. This morning I awoke before the alarm with the title words in my head---"Triangle Pose Points the Way." Yet when I sat down to write I was still wondering, like my readers, "...the way to what?" As I'm writing this very moment, I now realize that "Triangle Pose" points the way to the yoga of self study, which is the fourth of Patanjali's five rules of conduct called the niyamas. For the Christian, this is crucial time for the Holy Spirit to work within our hearts and minds. So let's begin with the practice of yoking to God in order to study our dreams and desires.

• Physically---Never rush or force the body into a yoga pose! Although "Triangle Pose" (Utthita Trikonasana) is safe for prenatal students, it is important to warm the muscles and joints with a vinyasa flow, such as the "Salutations to the Son" described in the April 27th through May 11th blogs of 2009. To continue the breath-synchronized flow from one posture to the next (as described in my January 4th blog entitled "Let's Dance"), inhale to lift the right leg from "Downward-facing Dog" and exhale to lunge the right foot forward between the hands with the right knee aligned directly over the right ankle. Then inhale the arms straight out to the side and lift the torso and arms upward to rise into "Warrior I Pose". While exhaling, open the left arm back to externally rotate the left shoulder, hip and foot as the arms lower to shoulder height in "Warrior II Pose". For more details read last week's blog that describes "Warrior II Pose."
• Gazing forward to flow from "Warrior II" into "Triangle Pose", inhale the right arm and hip forward to extend the torso and the spine neutrally, without collapsing the right side of the torso at the waist. Lift the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles to provide core support in order for the spine to remain extended. Then slowly exhale the right hand to the right shin while straightening the right leg and actively engaging the muscles of both legs to protect the knee joints. The side of the body will extend out over the front leg to form an acute angle with that leg. Both hips will rotate externally away from center to keep the kneecaps aligned over the second toe of each foot.
  
• With each exhalation the right arm lowers to a block or the floor just inside the right ankle in order to gently intensify the stretch in the muscles and joints. As the torso lowers and extends, the lower the center of gravity, the more strength will be required in the core and both leg muscles. With each inhalation the upper left arm reaches and extends upward with the gaze extending up over the shoulder to the upper hand in order to open the ribcage and shoulder joints while the lower right arm is grounding or stretching straight downward to provide opposing forces. The gaze point (called drishti) is upward, over the hand (hastagrai) of the upward reaching arm to direct the flow of energy upward and create a lifting sensation.
  
• Remain in "Triangle Pose" for 5-6 deep and smooth breaths before exhaling both hands to the mat and returning to "Downward-facing Dog Pose." Take two deep breaths before lunging the left leg forward to flow through the postures into "Triangle Pose" on the left side. Be sure to rest and meditate in "Corpse Pose", as described in the January 24th, 2009 blog, for 5-10 minutes before taking your insights from self-study off the mat and into the world.
• Mentally---It's always important to be present in your body when holding yoga poses, but especially those that transfer weight into the joints and connective tissues of the vulnerable knees. Pain or strong sensations in the medial knee of the straightened front leg in "Triangle Pose" can occur if the hamstrings of the front leg are not actively engaged to avoid transferring the weight to the knee joint. Therefore, in order to avoid hyperextension of both knees in this standing posture mindfully initiate a gradual lengthening and engaging of both leg muscles and knee joints, while lengthening and engaging the "flying up locks" (uddiyana bandha) along the side body and abdomen to support the weight of the torso that is extending over the front leg. As always, mindfully feel your body and be aware of the quality of each breath. Seek a place of ease in the pose where the opposing forces are in balance.
  
• Spiritually---Take time while holding "Triangle Pose" to notice how the feet are evenly grounding into the earth to provide the base that supports the pose, and yet the upper arm is reaching and seeking something beyond the physical. During "Triangle Pose" ask yourself, "What am I earnestly seeking beyond what I already have?" "Are my desires and intentions in line with my beliefs and my purpose for being?" "Do I know what my purpose is in this life?" "Where and how can I learn more about myself?" "What is my truth?"

We've all heard Polonius's last piece of advice to his son Laertes in Shakespeare's famous play, Hamlet, "To thine own self be true." But how can we be true to what we don't know? Maybe the journey to self-study and then realization needs to be shared by seeking a connection to the One who knows us best. Jesus' famous words on the subject of truth were offered "...to those Jews which believed on Him, 'If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32, KJV)

May I encourage my readers to take time to read The Holy Bible, and especially Jesus' words to Thomas, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6, KJV) Spend time alone with the One who really sees you. (Read the story of Hagar's encounter with God in the very first book of The Old Testament Bible, The Book of Genesis, Chapter 16.) It may inspire more seeking.... plf