Finding deeper meaning in asana

Many of us begin our yoga journey thinking only about the physical practice; maybe we want to be more flexible, fitter, less stressed or sleep better. We may have heard that yoga is good for us, but don’t really know the details or the whys and wherefores.

So we start on this journey and week by week we begin to sense changes. We begin to feel stronger, perhaps both physically and mentally. We can follow the class and understand more what is being asked of us, we can move into poses without feeling like we’re somehow playing a game of twister. We’re more aware of our breath and how we are feeling.

And maybe we begin to sense there’s something deeper behind the work and become interested in what this thing that we’re doing in classes week by week, actually means.

My students have been asking me about why poses are named as they are. Some there’s an obvious connection, because the shape is clear but others for example garudasana (Eagle pose) it may not be as immediately clear. I’m really enjoying their interest and their questions and it seems the right time in our practice together to introduce deeper yoga teachings into our classes. 

In our last of a series of classes focussing on balances, we were working up to the peak pose of Natarajasana - dancer pose. Dancer is possibly one of the most iconic yoga poses, a favourite for posting on instagram, but how often do we stop to think about what it really means? I used some of the time in savasana to talk to the students about Shiva, the Lord of the Dance, and how the pose represents the responsibility of Creation, Protection, Destruction, Embodiment and Release. I led the students through a guided meditation on how these forces can support us in transformation: destroying what no longer serves us in order to create anew. 

As teachers we need to be respectful of the history of yoga practice and be respectful of shared links with Hinduism and Buddhism. By responding to my students’ questions in this way, we found a gentle way to introduce the deeper explanations of yoga philosophy and take the practice beyond that of the initial beginners’ physical classes to a more rounded and enjoyable class.

If you want to know more about Natarajasana (dancer pose) I found this article very helpful (accessed 18 May 21)