child’s pose, feeling the sense of inner safety that this
posture generates.
Children are flexible and have an amazing capacity to
adapt to changing situations even as they have limited
ability to control the course of their own lives. Despite the
fact that they are subject to the will of adults who direct
their lives, children are able to find joy in their present
moment. Flexibility and adaptability are valuable qualities
that yoga can cultivate to reestablish some of the
resiliency of youth.
Carl Jung once said that as children we have uncon-
scious perfection. As adults we become conscious of our
imperfection. Finally, with wisdom we achieve a state of
conscious perfection.
The child’s pose provides an opportunity to quiet the
mind, relax the body, and celebrate the state of conscious
perfection. Whenever you feel that the demands of the
world are becoming too burdensome, assume this pose
and allow the Law of Least Effort and the Law of Detach-
ment to spontaneously awaken within you.
Yoga in Action
The human body is designed for movement. When you
are able to move freely, effortlessly, and in harmony with
your environment, you experience joy and vitality on all
levels of life. This is the highest expression of the Law of
Dharma—established in a state of expanded inner aware-
ness, you perform activity with dynamic ease. The regular
practice of yoga enables you to expand your limitations.
As the body becomes more flexible, the mind becomes
more flexible. As the body gains strength, the mind gains
172 The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga