Art of Attention: Practice Yoga? Teach Yoga? Think About Yoga? Read This.

What is possible -- and what is happening -- through your yoga practice?

And for teachers, how can you best serve your students by showing them efficaciously and efficiently your own experiential understanding?

Thanks to an astute observation from a dear colleague, it's come down to two terms: FORM and FUNCTION. Together, we have a complete practice. One without the other is a downright limiting of our potential -- and an incomplete class experience.

When we focus on the FORM of the pose, we enhance our physical strength, flexibility, stability and freedom. If we are to tap into our highest physical potential at any age, form is paramount -- at least initially. Precision in form is entirely necessary as a stepping point for what comes next -- which is a full experience, through that very form, of the FUNCTION of this practice. The function of your yoga is the way in which your practice leads you -- in your everyday life -- to more ease, lightness, clarity and connectedness to something higher in any interaction, no matter how complex.

Recently I suggested teaching the FUNCTION of the poses, rather than the form alone, to a fellow teacher, surmising that it might lend more authenticity to his voice, in relaying his own vision more accurately, thereby growing his classes. It worked.

What exactly does this mean?

I'm not setting form aside, by any means. Anusara yoga, at its foundation, opens us to what is highest within ourselves by tapping our awareness of the greater source using precise alignment. Well taught, this alignment reveals a deeper familiarity with our breathing on the mat and off, yielding more self-worth, consistent moments of pause in our hearts and effortlessness in every context of our lives.

After spending years refining the articulation of proper form as a teacher, it comes down to one question. HOW EXACTLY THIS PRACTICE WILL HELP US BE BETTER HUMANS? We're granted the gift of our embodiment; let's make the world more complete and meaningful through everything we offer.

To this end, right now as you read, take a deep breath into your kidneys, slightly rounding your lower back. Sustain that fullness -- and if you need more grounding today, exhale to soften the entire area of your heart down to rest onto your kidneys, lovingly opening your chest.

Alternately, for more receptivity today, inhale to round and sense the space; exhale to circumferentially lift your heart and chest. Try both to see what resonates more with you at this moment.

[FYI: Your kidneys are behind you, in the vicinity of your lower back, one on each side, transmuting toxicity, keeping what's needed and eliminating what isn't useful to your body.]

This kind of breathing brings you to an awareness of the abundance of space within your body, and your ability to pause in any context. In recent months I've been bringing attention to this space, so that in any pose, the function of the practice is to simply manifest more access and awareness of that physical space within us, and translate that spaciousness as a healing pause, in our thoughts, our words and our gestures in the world. You may find that once you've focused on this space [or spaciousness], there is increased calm in your own body, and you'll consistently magnetize people who manifest this in their own lives.

This is but one example of the function of the practice. It helps us to see what is good, what is abundant, rather than the problem or the lack -- and this is a great rationale for practicing yoga. More "functions" to come in this arena; my hope is that once you've explored this potential in your practice, the work or energy of your practice will flow seamlessly into your interactions, relationships, parenting, intimacy with yourself.

With this pause, we'll have time to see how the moments of strife in our daily lives can flow right back into our practice as fuel for our healing.

 

 

Follow Elena Brower on Twitter: www.twitter.com/VIRAYOGA

Comments

[NoSillyName]

I asked a serious question about yoga classes but it has failed to be answered or even to show up, so I'll try again:

Is it possible to take a class for the physical/health benefits without having the instructor lecture or do "motivational speaking", as Ms. Brower refers to it? Apparently this is the common practice.

[Elena Brower - Huffpost Blogger]

the answer is YES. let me know where you live and i will endeavor to locate a teacher who will offer this to you.

it's a super fine line to walk as a teacher, between teaching the poses and finding authentic ways to encourage the students to make the experience on the mat pertinent to their actual living. let's see if we can find you someone in your area who may provide this subtlety for you.
email me at [e-mail] and i will do my best.
e

[NoSillyName]

Thanks, Elena. I'll do that.

I took a semester class in college in the '90s and enjoyed it. Still have my mat, tape and DVD. Problem is motivation. Having to go to a class should provide the push I need. If I can afford it, that is. I'm on disability and funds are very low. I'm guessing yoga might help with chronic pain

[Giada]

I did yoga for two years and although a pleasant experience it was not a life style enhancement. Scuba diving was another matter for me, weightless underwater, interaction with sea life, the feel of the variable water temperatures, all led to both an increased feeling of well being and happiness.

[Elena Brower - Huffpost Blogger]

perfect, giada. your diving is your yoga. take all the yoga pose phrasing out and install the diving equivalents in every post i write - and we are talking about the same potentialities.

do please keep offering your experiences in these comments for the folks who practice and play in other ways, as you do - the similarities will resonate with more people than just yoga practitioners. thank you kindly. and someday i am so looking forward to trying diving- have heard similar feedback from many people. all the best to you.

[0dette]

I like your graceful, practical articles. Form and Function remind me of Theory & Practice. Theory & Practice comes up in art history often -- the idea(l) of art & the practice of art: where they blend, how they contradict, how they inform each other, etc. So with your Form and Function example for Yoga. In today's world, especially in consideration of our global challenges, more attention (Attention) should be paid to the Function of our Form. Often, we are trained to create an elegant picture (a well modeled statistical program, a properly tailored suit, a bright sounding development initiative, a perfectly made souffle), yet we forget that this is just the doorway -- the real test of the mettle of our presentation is the way that it serves, not just ourselves and our own interests, but everyone who will come in contact with its reality & presence. As you say (& I paraphrase), Form is the essential platform for further discovery, but it is the platform; it makes sense for it to be perfect (what astronaut, for example, wants to to take off into outer space from a platform that is less than perfectly balanced & secure?), yet it is the Practice that is the means for discovery and purpose (just like the point of space exploration is not taking off, but to explore, learn, educate, share & develop new means for creativity , understanding & survival). Thank you for your words of positive encouragement, serious reflection & bliss.

[Elena Brower - Huffpost Blogger]

odette, your thoughts are clear and appreciated. platform and practice. excellent.

these are all aspects of the journey on which i'm working myself; rather than something i've already perfected. as i write, i'm practicing the ideas and encouragement in my own home and heart. still finding that in the "work," in the total worst morass of it, is the glimpse of possible bliss. again thank you.

[jonahsmimi]

a really good post. when i remember to sit up straight and breathe properly i do
feel the results - a slowing of my breathing and less tenseness in my body.

[Elena Brower - Huffpost Blogger]

thanks so much, MOM (!). what a feeling to know you're finding this helpful ! the best.

[outnow]

Sounds like pulling oneself up by the mental bootstraps. It's all good. Self-defeating thoughts are not healthy.

[Elena Brower - Huffpost Blogger]

AMEN

[jglow77]

I respectfully disagree. I think a lot of people need reassuring and positive thinking and they feel better being talked to in positive terms such as peace-givi­ng-freedom­-etc, however I am not sure why lately yoga studios have become a place of choice for this motivational speaking. These words don't really mean anything specific, they are only loosely based on yoga philosophy, and for a change I would like a vinyasa class not to be endlessly interrupted so that the instructor can drone in his/her vision of abstract happiness.

I think there is also a danger in getting too excited with these word games and willing to translate them into movement. For example to bring the "awareness of the abundance of space within your body" Mrs Bower recommends rounding the lower back on the inhale. Such rounding would interfere with the lumbar curve of the spine which should be maintained in good alignment. You can breathe into your belly without rounding the spine, there is no need to go to extremes to illustrate an abstract point.

[Elena Brower - Huffpost Blogger]

agreed on the following points:
1- yoga studios are very often the place where the possibilities for peace/freedom are offered, sometimes not very well.

2- the "motivational speaking" can often be long-winded and taken from a book and not the teacher's own experience, which is when it sounds empty - and as though you practice is being interrupted.

however, there is a fine line that a quality teacher will tread between offering experience of spaciousness in a pose and offering ways in which that space can be brought into the stickiest interactions.

it's likely that you've not yet experienced a teacher who weaves the concepts and the poses in a way that brings you to a real-life application of the practice into your actual daily interactions.

that said, if you're in nyc i will gladly treat you to a class with me, to see if there is any resonance here. if you're elsewhere, email me at [e-mail] and i'll locate a teacher who's super deft in this way,

lastly, the rounding of the spine, if you kindly re-read the instruction, is only on the inhalation, to find the opening internally. the exhale is when you open and align even more fully than if you hadn't first accessed that space.

thank you so much for your comment. it helps me to clarify the process.

[OtayPanky]

Yoga comes out of a culture that has the worst track record in the world, for the longest period of time, in terms of denial of basic human rights and exploitation of huge segments of the population.

So if Yoga practitioners want to save the world, a good place to start might be engaging in a little activism on behalf of the Dalits (aka "untouchables")., rather than just navel-gazing or trying to make a buck as a guru to the worried well with cash to spare.

[donzilove]

OMG you need yoga in your life. I really do not think India has the worst track record in the world for the longest period of time...how about the church??? I think they are about the worst but this is just my thought. You have no clue what it is and how it changes you. Maybe that is why it is still around after thousands of years. Maybe that is why we live longer. Maybe it is why we are healthy. We yogi's do not want to save the world we are simpy at peace with it and ourselves. We do not hate so I recommend you get a mat and give it a try. I know it will change your life if you go into it with an open mind...namaste

[Elena Brower - Huffpost Blogger]

check out http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kiri-westby/can-yoga-save-the-world_b_301434.html -
a great post on how yogis nationwide are really helping to offer the abundance back to those in serious need.

[yogandclimber]

I was leaning over a box to pick something up and I thought, "check this Warrior 3 out right here!"

[Elena Brower - Huffpost Blogger]

nice! i did that today, trying to find a pan under the sink, a full anjaneyasana... had such a giggle to myself.

[TOBNY]

Love it. Form and Function. "Theme" is a term used a lot in Anusara classes. It can, at times, seem a bit forced and limit the teacher's personal expression. "Function" seems to be a more freeing term. How would you say "Function" differs from theme and could they be used together in a class? Also does the function always refer to the function of the practice or can certain poses have different functions within the same practice? Thanks for your work.

[Elena Brower - Huffpost Blogger]

i think the function, well-thought- through, IS the theme. cultivating more patience, in this case, or a vantage point of abundance, perhaps even more apropos to this particular post. we may just be having a semantics chat here, but i do feel it's a more accessible way for some of us to articulate the benefit of any pose during class in a more honest, clear way.

thank you for keeping me posted on your thougths / feedback / experience with this.