A Grand Opening
by Lisa Longton
(Don’t get too excited. No, I am not opening my own yoga studio! That’s not the grand opening I’m talking about). Have you ever had one of those “a-ha!” moments during your yoga practice? That moment when you have a physical change in your body, or you simply gain a new awareness of what is happening, a new comprehension? That’s the grand opening I’m referring to.
The whole idea for a blog came about when one of my students suddenly understood the purpose of the Dual Actions. She exclaimed, “If I don’t do both, nothing happens!”
A grand opening can occur in the body as a result of Dual Actions. Dual actions are those actions your teacher is always directing you to do which seem to be in opposition of each other, like counter actions, or at worst, impossible to do at the same time. An example is in Tadasana (Mountain pose) when your teacher says “thighs back, buttocks down.” An even more exaggerated example is Virabhadrasana I (Warrior 1 pose) in the same context. When the thigh of the back leg is pressed back strongly while the tailbone is pressed down, an opening occurs in the psoas major muscle, and the rectus femoris muscle at the front hip of the back leg. The hips and groins open.
Dual actions are used to create a safe, healthy, and appropriate opening in the body. By following the direction of both actions simultaneously, only the available opening that is appropriate for your body in that moment will occur. Only beneficial change will occur, while you’ll be protected from overstretching or straining a joint or muscle.
What are the most important Dual Actions? Sthira and Sukha. If you want to know what they are, either read Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, or read my next blog…