Anusara Yoga
Principles of Anusara Yoga Philosophy
The vision of Anusara yoga is grounded in a Tantric philosophy of intrinsic goodness. In this philosophy we take the premise that everything in this world is an embodiment of Supreme Consciousness, which at its essence pulsates with goodness and the highest bliss. All of creation is divinely danced into existence for the simple delight and the play of embodying the Supreme’s own blissful nature.
As of January 2010, the philosophical vision of Anusara yoga is specifically called Shiva-Shakti Tantra. Everything manifests as a result of the dance of Divine polarities, the mystical marriage between Shiva and Shakti that is auspicious consciousness vibrating with Freedom and is full of the highest Bliss. It is in the relation of both Shiva and Shakti that the matrix of time, space and the entire material world is created, out of pure Joy. One cannot occur without the other, and so our philosophy honors and glorifies both: consciousness and its power, male and female, sun and moon; it is Shiva-Shakti Tantra.
The highest intention of practicing Anusara yoga is to align with the Divine. As we deepen our alignment with the Supreme, we step deeper into the flow of Grace. It is through the revelatory power of Grace that we awaken to the truth that this Divine flow is our essential nature. This higher knowledge naturally fuels our deepest desire to lovingly serve the creative flow of life through each breath and posture in our yoga practice. On our yoga mat we artistically offer our individual light and our unique music with the heartfelt prayer of adding more beauty, love, and goodness to the world.
The highest intention of practicing Anusara yoga is to align with the Divine. As we deepen our alignment with the Supreme, we step deeper into the flow of Grace.
The art of Anusara yoga is a co-participation with the Supreme—not a practice of domination, subjugation, or control of Nature. The poses in Anusara yoga are considered to be “heart-oriented,” meaning that they are expressed from the “inside out.” Instead of trying to control the body and mind from the outside, the poses originate from a deep creative and devotional feeling inside. On our mat, we endeavor to always remember the spiritual purpose or highest intention of practicing hatha yoga, including reconnecting with our innate Goodness and expressing ourselves from that Divine place.
Anusara yoga encompasses a vision of totality in which every part of each person is seen as equally Divine. It is through the limitations of the body/mind that we discover that our true nature is boundless. The body and mind are various limited forms of Divine embodiment through which we may experience the ecstasy of recognizing and glorifying the unbounded One in the world of the many. The physical body is a magnificent manifestation of Spirit, not simply an inferior material vessel. Similarly, our thoughts, desires, passions and emotions are not obstacles to spiritual awakening which need to be squelched or eliminated, but instead they are God-given means of glorifying and expanding our experience of the Supreme. Ultimately, the body/mind is a Divine gift to help us discover our glory, our greatness, and our worthiness to experience the highest sense of freedom. Embodiment is not some sort of karmic punishment, nor something we need to transcend. Moreover, although this material body/mind is ever-changing, it is not an illusion, nor a mistake of one’s perception. In Anusara yoga we enthusiastically seek to develop and refine all parts of ourselves: body; mind, including our reasoning and intuitive capacities; and our emotions, including the deepest virtues of our heart.
Life is good. Indeed, goodness is the absolute nature of the universe. There is no intrinsic or absolute evil in the universe. However, because we are born free to choose our own experience, human beings are capable of mistakes and deliberate malevolence-moving out of alignment with the Divine in a way that creates suffering and harm. Although nothing has a malevolent or evil essence at its absolute nature, goodness takes on a relative state in the world of manifestation. In other words, not everything in the material world is as good as everything else, yet within the absolute, nothing has a bad essence. So through our Anusara yoga practice we cultivate an ability to clearly discriminate between what is life-enhancing and what is not. We then use our power of discrimination and judgment to align with the good in order to reduce suffering, diminish ugliness, dissolve hatred, and conversely to exult in the splendor of life and our inherent auspiciousness.
Spiritual awakening is the ever-expanding process of recognizing that our true nature is perfect, full, and lacking nothing. Spiritual freedom or enlightenment is not a fixed state of being. Rather it is an ever-evolving process of unfolding our effulgence, goodness, balance, and perfection. Progress on the path of awakening is reflected in an increase in one’s spiritual centeredness; wisdom; trust in the Divine’s play; capacity to lovingly honor the Divine in each other; and ability to celebrate the Divine grandeur in life. Put simply, Anusara yoga practitioners, when they are embodying the Anusara yoga teachings, naturally become nicer and more considerate. They develop a greater sensitivity and a heightened compassion toward everyone and everything around them. Further signs of progress on the path include a deepening of an inner strength and steadfastness. Anusara yoga students become more appreciative and passionate participants in Life as they practice this life-affirming philosophy on and off the mat.
The Anusara yoga community (kula) is inclusive, life-affirming, and evolving. Individuality and creative self-expression, which glorify the greatness of the kula, are encouraged and celebrated.
The Anusara yoga community (kula) is inclusive, life-affirming, and evolving. Individuality and creative self-expression, which glorify the greatness of the kula, are encouraged and celebrated. Anusara yoga welcomes all forms of cultural and ethnic diversity. Furthermore, Anusara Yoga encourages a wide variety of spiritual and religious self-expressions, which are heart-centered and foster love and happiness. We acknowledge, respect, and invite a diversity of experience both within our own community and among those outside the community who are seeking to align with the Divine. Our experience of diversity and difference is an affirmation of the Divine’s own experience of inclusiveness, non-prejudice, and celebration of plurality. We lead by the example of our own lives, while respecting others’ choices to express their own views and values. With deep respect we warmly invite everyone to join the grand celebration of life through Anusara yoga.
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Methodology
The Anusara yoga method is distinguished by the integration of several elements which are common in every class:
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The Tantric philosophy of intrinsic goodness underlies the methodology of teaching Anusara yoga. Consequently, Anusara yoga teachers, first and foremost, look for the good in all things, especially within themselves and their students. Anusara yoga teachers help enhance and reveal the beauty and Divine qualities that are already present in the students' poses. They do not try to "fix" or "correct" students' alignment. Instead, they are dedicated to serving each student and helping them unveil their innate goodness, worthiness, and Supreme nature. Furthermore, Anusara yoga teachers are committed to helping build and empower each student's self-esteem, while inspiring light-heartedness, playfulness, and joyful creativity within the yoga practice. |
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Each class begins with an invocation or centering as a devotional recognition of the grace-bestowing power of universal Spirit within and around us. |
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Each class has a heart-oriented theme, which has a meaningful connection to the grand spiritual purposes of the asana practice. The theme usually centers on cultivating a virtue-a quality of mind or heart, which is a microcosmic reflection of our Divine nature. Each theme gives a direction for the attitudinal energy that infuses every action and breath in the poses. Effectively, all the poses in Anusara yoga are expressed from the "inside out." |
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An elegant, concise set of alignment principles called the "Universal Principles of Alignment™" is applied to each asana. A central idea within the Universal Principles of Alignment is the 3 A's: Attitude, Alignment, and Action. This refers to a foundational concept within Anusara yoga in which every pose is infused with a meaningful intention connected to the grand purposes of yoga, awareness of specific postural alignment, and balanced action between stability and freedom. The specific principles include Muscular Energy and Organic Energy, which are the two complementary forces that provide each pose with a balanced action. Other alignment principles include Spirals and Loops, which help to bring refinement and precision to each pose. |
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Movements and actions within every pose are coordinated with the breath. |
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Postural alignments in each pose are checked in reference to the Universal Principles of Alignment. The teacher then gives adjustments verbally and physically to the students in order to enhance their poses. |
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Poses are modified or supported with props if necessary to help each student achieve the general form of pose. |
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Postural demonstrations may be used when necessary to clarify alignment instructions. |
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The Anusara yoga method is designed to serve students of any level of experience or ability, from children to seniors, and students with special therapeutic needs to advanced practitioners. |
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There are over 250 poses that compile the syllabii of Anusara yoga asanas. This syllabus encompasses all the poses that are commonly practiced in the foremost hatha yoga styles throughout the world. The syllabus covers all of the key asanas within the major classifications of poses: standing poses, backbends, forward bends, twists, hand-balancings, inversions, and restoratives. |
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Practicing variations of the basic poses is encouraged as a full expression of the human spirit. |
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Although there are no set postural routines in Anusara yoga, classes are designed using principles of sequencing. One of the principles includes progressively sequencing poses to help students of all levels advance in their practice. |
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Classes are concluded with Savasana or meditation or a quiet centering in order to help better assimilate the teachings and honor the spiritual experience of the class. Students are left with a blessing or a reminder on how to continue to embody the heart theme "off the mat" in their daily life. |
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Ultimately, we want each student to leave an Anusara yoga class feeling better about him or herself, empowered by the revelation of his or her Divine nature. |
