5. Merely Doing in the body parts Vs learning its Usages.
When a person cycles, or swims, one is using different parts of the body to propel oneself forward. In due course of time, one will develop certain muscles and strengths.
Now compare this to the education imbibed in the asanas. In standing asanas, one not only uses the legs, but starts learning the usages of the legs, for example, on the back, the spine; this education will come in handy later when one practices asanas of different depths like backbends, balancing or twisting postures; one will begin to identify the contribution of the legs to the overall assembly. The practitioner will imbibe the knowledge of what connections the legs make with the different body parts, even the eyes and ears.
We use our minds on different parts of our bodies; why can’t we, with proper application, learn the usages of how to use our arms for our backs, our legs for our spine, our breath for our body and mind and so on.
Zubin Zarthoshtimanesh
“For every complex question, there is a simple answer… and it is wrong.” H.L. Mencken
Image: The main practice hall at RIMYI in Pune. (H. Lovegrove)
Iyengar Yoga Teaching & Training 