Turns out Ashtanga yoga is yoga therapy…
Um, what???? That style of yoga that kicks my butt every single time? The whole primary series that is so challenging it can take years (I’ve heard) before you actually can DO and HOLD all the poses…5 breaths REALLY can seem like an eternity…
Yeah. Who knew?!
The whole primary series is called Yoga Chikitsa (sanskrit) which translates into Yoga Therapy. This is NOT what I think of when I think of therapy – mostly because I can hardly walk when we are done much less stand up straight and I’m wringing wet with sweat…and panting (I mean, practicing my ujjayi breathing)…
If you don’t practice Ashtanga you are probably getting the point.
But here’s the thing. When I’m done with the primary series, even though it is physically challenging, I feel like everything is in alignment, strong beyond belief (inner strength as much as outer) and I ALWAYS have a pervading sense of all the pieces of my own personal puzzle coming together. Those feelings are, in my opinion, a big green GO light that some “thing” in this system works. That plus it does make you physically strong fast…that, or you’ll die a quick death (just kidding…well, half-kidding about that last part).
Anyways, when I think about this as yoga therapy…it does start to make sense. The whole series is healing in that it cleanses and tones the body, the mind, the senses. Believe me, you WON’T be thinking about anything other than getting through the series of poses because in Ashtanga there is no room for any other thought than what is currently at hand…it is AWESOME.
Crazy, right? Makes no sense, really, but it is the coolest thing ever…Surya Namaskara A and B (sun salutation)…here I come…