Today, I am sharing with you an advanced arm balance posture Astavakrasana or Eight Angle Pose. Balance poses/asanas are playing an important within 12 main yoga postures in the Sivananda Hatha Yoga tradition! Balance poses are good for your stamina, concentration and mind. Arm balance poses are also strengthening the wrists arms and shoulders. Follow my instructions and leave your comments, thoughts or questions below. I am happy to share my knowledge with you.
Remember, no need to buy expensive yoga pants if you are a beginner, start with comfortable clothes and follow my lessons. You can use any yoga mat for your morning or evening yoga practice. A yoga block or yoga cushion can support your meditation posture.
Astavakrasana or Eight Angle Pose, I am sharing with you my way to get into this pose.
Did you know? This asana is dedicated to a sage named Astavakra, which translates as Asta = Eight and Vakra = Bent.
The story begins as Astavakra was inside his mother’s womb. He heard his father reciting the Vedas (sacred texts) and caught him making several mistakes. The unborn baby started laughing; which made his father so mad that he cursed his son to be born crooked in eight places as Astavakra. Although Astavakra was born crooked in eight places, he was extremely wise.
Years later, his father was defeated in a philosophical debate and imprisoned. Astavakra decided to regain his father’s freedom and embarked on a very difficult journey, considering he is bent in eight places, which took him thirty days of walking to the palace of King Janaka.
Once he arrived, Astavakra was humiliated and disappointed. He had hoped for the palace to be a place where learned men were having philosophical discussions, but he only found people who laughed at his appearance. Astavakra said to King Janaka “I do not see any learned men. All I see is shoemakers; men who see only a person’s skin and who judge me by this superficial measure. “
King Janaka realised the truth in Astavakra’s words and asked for his forgiveness. After which Astavakra avenged his father in a philosophical debate and gained him back his freedom.
Astavakra became King Janaka’s preceptor, and his father was so proud that he took him to the holy river to lift the curse and heal his bent body.
This story is a reminder that yoga welcomes all bodies and that no one should be judged only by their appearance.
In case you are in Greenwich Park, London, watch out for the Flower Garden, I am teaching traditional Hatha Yoga according to Sivananda each Saturday from 10:45 am to 12:15 pm (if the weather permits it of course).
Om Shanti!
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