Purpose of Yoga Poses
Yoga poses are tools for removing discomfort in the body. The body needs to be comfortable for the mind to be able to relax.
In modern life, we go through a limited range of movements, and often only in one direction. We hunch forward working at a desk, but rarely bend the thoracic spine backwards. We use tools with our dominant arm, but rarely work with the other arm.
This uni-directional way of living creates imbalances in the body. Imbalances create strain in muscles and connective tissues. Sustained strains over time accumulate into discomfort, pain, and eventually injury.
The purpose of practicing yoga poses is to bring awareness to these imbalances. By placing your body in different postures, it heightens your awareness to specific parts of the body. As you hold the pose, your breath expands deep into the body, allowing your mind to feel for imbalances. Once you notice the imbalances, correcting them is simple. Just move in the opposite direction.
The most important part is letting go of your thoughts during your practice. The body is an intricate structure, with many layers of muscles and connective tissues running in different directions. The less you think, the more space you allow your mind to feel the subtle misalignments.
As you discover and realign the physical imbalances, you will remove the seeds that may grow into discomfort, pain, and injury in the future. A comfortable body is a prerequisite for a comfortable mind.