The yogi’s say there are an unlimited number of poses and variations. They also teach us that there are several, original, essential, archetypal poses. And from these poses we can see different categories of poses, or families of poses. There’s only so many ways we can anatomically move the body. There’s three areas of the body which provide most of the movement and which we primarily focus on in yoga asana practice — the Thoraco-lumbar spine, the hips, and the shoulders.
The Thoraco-lumbar spine can; flex, extend, laterally flex, and rotate. The hips and shoulders can; flex and extend, adduct and abduct, and internally and externally rotate.
When we focus on the movement in these three areas it’s easy to see the families of poses. These poses make up the deeper practices along with some other essential poses which have a specific effect on the physical body, on the nervous system, and on the sense organs and the mind.
Warm up so that you can safely practice the deeper practices. Use the deeper practices to take a journey inward and experience the true nature of your Self!
