Yoga asana is to be experienced as a felt sensation.

Balance is described as an equal distribution of presence and effort (equanimity) throughout the body. In our yoga poses we are constantly put into positions where we are off balance. As we breathe and remain centered and calm we are coordinating what's inside (space inside our body) with what's outside (space outside our body).

 

 Inner awareness travels from the body to the mind. In each yoga pose we are training the mind to learn to hear a level of effortless experience. The muscles are active but in such a way that we feel openness, expansion, and flow of prana rather than constriction. References given by your teacher should help you develop your inner awareness.

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Grounding begins from feeling the center of your body while seated, standing, or lying on your mat. You must ground well in order to lift up and expand out with less effort. The sensation of grounding is a core nourishment you want to get to in order to relax.

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Expansion is movement felt from the inside out. Expansion must be balanced with grounding to rewire your nervous system. Taking muscular effort out of the pose allows for effortless expansion. Yoga poses function from the center of the spine outward. So supporting the spine helps create the sensation of expansion.

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Rhythm is a joyous and calming sensation. It just makes us feel good. In our yoga poses we are feeling rhythm from the spine out to the limbs. It becomes this sensual connection to what's outside of you. It can be tiny rhythmic movements in your fingers or bigger rhythmic movements that involve your core and spine.

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Prana - In yoga poses we are trying to feel this prana (life force) from the spine out to the limbs. The breath is linked to the prana in the spine. On an inhale you feel the life force expand out to the limbs. On exhale you keep the line of lift from the inhale to enhance the flow of prana from inside out and around. 

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