Australian Yoga Journal — November 2017

69

november/december 2017

yogajournal.com.au

Movement DirectionInward

Centred inThe digestive system; it’s experienced in the

digestion, absorption, and assimilation of the foods, liquids,

and air that enters the body.

ExpressedInternally; in a culture that celebrates extroversion,

samana vayu is an essential reminder that turning inward

helps maintain harmony in our lives and bodies. In the same

way a well-sequenced yoga class may peak to a heart-opening

pose and then counter with a forward fold, samana vayu is

the counter pose for moving through life—a suggestion that

turning inward is not only a valid response to life’s demands

but necessary for vitality and health.

The PoseMarichyasana I

From Dandasana, bend your right knee, placing your right

foot on the floor with your heel as close to your sit bone as

possible. Keep your left leg strong, grounding your left thigh

bone into the floor. Reach your right arm forward and point

your thumb down, rotating your arm inward as you lengthen

your torso forward and snuggle your knee into your right

armpit. On an inhalation, pull your navel in toward your spine,

contracting your abdominals to generate length through your

back body. On an exhalation, sweep your forearm around the

outside of your leg. Sweep your left arm around your back,

using a strap or towel to connect your hands (or clasp your

hands together, if you can). Feel samana vayu as you draw

your navel in toward your spine and lift upward, hugging in

toward your centre. Hold for 10–15 breaths, then repeat on the

other side. As you sustain this posture, consider how it feels to

move toward your centre—to be inwardly reliant rather than

externally motivated. Notice how different flows of energy are

concurrently present as you look inward: The outward flow

of energy (vyana vayu) subtly extends your heart forward as

your front heel pushes ahead. The downward flow of energy

(apana vayu) encourages the sole of your planted foot toward

the mat. Each inhalation (prana vayu) helps you stay present to

the experience. Your awareness of the other vayus exemplifies

that turning inward does not mean shutting down, turning off,

spiritually bypassing, or escaping. Instead, samana vayu draws

you intentionally to your centre in a fully informed, holistic way

so that as you move outward, your actions come from the very

core of your being.

Take it off the matWhenever you feel energetically drained,

make time to turn inward. Trust your instincts, get quiet, and

listen closely for what your body is telling you it needs in order

to feel rejuvenated. Eliminate outside distractions by turning off

your phone, computer—anything that makes noise. In silence,

take time to simply be..

Our Pro Teacher and model Lauren Eckstrom is a yoga and meditation

teacher in Los Angeles and co-author of the book Holistic Yoga Flow:

The Path of Practice with her husband, yoga teacher Travis Eliot. The

husband-and-wife team leads Holistic Yoga Flow workshops, retreats, and

teacher trainings, and they co-created Yoga 30 for 30—a 30-day online yoga

program of half-hour daily practices. Learn more at laureneckstrom.com.

Samana Vayu