By Julia Pearring
Certified Anusara® Yoga Teacher

The modern understanding of Yoga and the asana practice continues to evolve and deepen. While some of this is a maturing in our understanding of the spiritual depth of yoga, a lot of this has to do with the fact that the asana practice fits within the fitness and wellness communities, and these communities rely on the current research within modern science. This leads to trends in sequencing, specific cues that come into and fall out of favor, plus so much more.

Rest assured– we would never give our practice over to science. Most of modern science is based on empirical evidence, where truth is based on what is measurable, and we know that the depth of our practice is immeasurable, and experience based. Yet, as imaging technology progresses and becomes more widely used, we are seeing into the body in incredible ways, and the cutting edge of research is challenging previously held notions about alignment.

First off, variation is the norm. Within each body, asymmetry is no mistake- we are not meant to be the same one side to the other (a better goal is to bring the two sides in a united relationship around the midline). Within the range of body types, we see that humans are on a continuum, for instance there is a wide range of tissue mobility that is genetically determined. Variation in number of vertebrae, orientation of the inner organs, and more also play in to how our experiences will differ as we engage the asana practice.

Second, there is the previous notion that being out of general alignment was synonymous with pain. However, there are many studies that show bulging and herniated discs are common in people that do not experience any associated pain. There are also plenty of case studies where someone with pain will have no seeming misalignment.

Basically, this means:

• an optimal outer alignment does not necessarily mean that you will be without injury or pain.
• a suboptimal outer alignment does not necessarily mean that you will be in pain, or are destined for pain.

Knowing this, many within the yoga communities are questioning or abandoning the idea that there is an alignment that meets everyone where they are, going so far as to say that an emphasis on alignment is short sighted.

What does this recent swing away from specific alignment cuing mean for Anusara Yoga, as we are an alignment-based method? Does alignment matter?!?

YES! It matters because we are aligning to our own inner depth and knowledge, not to an outer shape. This research is ultimately supporting our understanding that alignment comes from the inside out.

The Universal Principles of Alignment (called the UPAs) is a sequence of alignment principles. It begins with Open to Grace, which invites us to pause and tune in rather than jumping in to try to fix, shift or make things otherwise. This allows the next step of aligning, Muscle Energy (ME), to be more refined than micromanaging our musculature or make something happen by force. Instead, our efforts align to what will ultimately lead to a free and spontaneous expression, Organic Energy (OE).

The actions of Open to Grace set us up for the subsequent principles to unfold. It brings awareness to the periphery, through the purposeful placement and action in our foundation. It equally brings awareness to the core, creating the space for the focal points to arise by expanding the inner body throughout the full length of the midline.

The three focal points represent an organizing center available within every pose for the limbs to orient towards, similar to how spokes are organized around the hub of a wheel. Locating an internal anchor solidifies that this practice is to seat us more fully in our inner depth AND allows us to see beyond the outer shape. We can then observe the expression of the asana based on if it is integrated into the focal point at the same time the edges expand outward (the pulsation of ME and OE).

We use specific alignment cues to forge this connection. Turning the inner thigh upward on the back leg is not really an end within itself, it is a means to connecting the distal end of the foot into the pelvic focal point. Taken out of the context of the pulsation between periphery and core, any specific alignment cue can easily be too much or too little or can be enacted to fit or please the outer shape rather than support an inner unfolding.

Specific alignment cues become extremely useful for tuning in to places where the connection gets lost as we track the actions through the body. Not only will different bodies need different amounts of each UPA to fulfill the pulsation, but there can be a range in pacing, the amount of movement through space, and so much more.

Understanding this, the potential of the UPAs deepens and expands. Rather than limit how we are meant to move or look, they invite us to continue to observe and cue new and refined ways to further organize and support ourselves, meeting each of us right where we are.