Why hold the pose?

What will you learn if you just walk through a museum without stopping to read the stories behind the displays?

Jumping from yoga pose to yoga pose without holding it is the same. You’ll only get to know your body on the surface.

The body is like an onion - there are many layers of muscles and tissues. Without training, your awareness is only at the surface. When you learn to gain control of deeper layers of muscles, you can move through life in a coordinated manner that places less strain on the body. When you can uncover deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue imbalances, you can resolve them before they develop into painful conditions in the future. Your body will drive for longer, like a well-tuned car.

Your breath is the tool that can help you accomplish this. A yoga pose positions your body to heighten awareness in specific areas of the body. It takes time holding the pose to explore the deeper layers. As you inhale, your breath expands through the body, acting like a sensor to expand your awareness deeper into the body. As you become aware, the relaxing effect from the exhale will melt away the muscles that are holding tight. Once the tight muscles on the surface melt away, your breath will be able to expand even deeper into your body on your next inhale. Breath by breath, you’ll be able to connect and master the numerous layers of your body.

With a great book, you can read it over and over, and learn something new each time. Your body is a masterpiece of intricate design. There is always something new you can discover each time you hold the yoga pose and observe your body. With deepened mastery, you can glide through life gracefully.

If you find holding the yoga pose difficult, you are likely approaching the practice incorrectly. Find out the correct approach in this article: Coming soon