AustralianYogaJournal-April2018

(Marcin) #1

ModifyUtthita Parsvakonasana as needed


to find safe alignment in your body


61


april 2018

yogajournal.com.au

YOGAPEDIA


your practice


If your hamstrings or glutes are tight,


or if you feel wobbly ...


TRY bringing your front elbow to your front thigh instead of putting
your hand on the mat. From a wide stance, with your front heel in
line with your back heel and your front knee over your front ankle,
inhale and reach your arms up, creating length in your side body.
Exhale and allow your pelvis to rotate. Sidebend over your front leg
and place your front elbow on your front thigh. Putting your elbow
on your thigh will allow you to more easily keep your legs active,
helping you to balance.


If you struggle to keep your


back heel down ...


TRY putting your back foot against a wall. It’s important to keep
your back foot down with the outer edge of your foot anchored
to the mat. This helps you keep your core active in the pose.
Set up your mat against a wall. Place your back heel against the
wall, and as you move into the posture, keep pressing your back
heel against the wall. This also wakes up the inner thigh of your
back leg. As you stand here, concentrate on lifting and engaging
that leg.


If you’re unable to place your hand on
the floor (and you want to move your right
arm lower than your thigh) ...
TRY bringing your front hand to a block on the outside of your
front foot. This allows you to keep the alignment of the posture
while developing a new range of mobility, particularly if taking
your elbow to your thigh does not feel challenging enough for
you. The block is for balance, but don’t press firmly into it. Instead,
gently rest your hand on the block and keep length in your spine
and energy in your legs.

Find your truth


Your yoga practice can help you become


more aware of your patterns—both physical


and psychological. Notice where you hold


tension, and pay attention to thoughts that


keep emerging. I started practicing yoga


during law school, and it helped me to


understand that my choice to become a


lawyer was driven by my kleshas


(dvesha and abhinivesha). I had been rock


climbing for a few years and loved


it, but my fears kept me from thinking


that it would ever be a feasible career. The


more I practiced yoga, the more I knew that


becoming a professional rock climber was


part of my dharma, or life purpose.


When you know what your priorities are,


it can give you the strength to make life


choices that are more true to you.

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