Yoga Assists

When is it then I'll be able
To put an end to suffering
With a rain of every goodness,
Of all that's kept me well,
From clouds of my good deeds to those
Who are caught in the fire of suffering?
May no single living being
Ever again feel a single pain.
May they never again feel afraid,
Never again be hurt by another,
Never again be unhappy.
-Master Shantideva

Karmic Correlation
Through relaxation in Shavasana, we are able to access all karmic relationships. The resolution of those relationships depends on our ability to bring them back to their point of origin, which is joy, and allow them to dissolve into themselves like the oroborus, the snake who eats its own tail, symbolizing infinity.

Ultimately there is no death; what we call death is only a process of the dissolution of the body container. The soul is immortal. A lifetime is an opportunity to purify the karmas that make up the physical body, and Shavasana is one of the methods.

The deepest relaxation happens when we let go of our past experiences, our past relationships with others. We strive to let go of all that we identify with. Shavasana dissolves illusions of separation so that unity between self and other is revealed. Deep healing and transformation can happen on a physical, cellular level as well as psychological and spiritual levels. Without deep relaxation the full benefits of a yoga practice can’t be realized.

No asana practice is complete without a final relaxation. Shavasana is an opportunity to digest the experience of our asana practice, which is essentially a journey into our karmic makeup

Karmic Correlation
By focusing on the neck, throat and head, you are able to access your karmic relationships with yourself, your teachers and God—your karmas related to how you have treated and perceived yourself, your teachers and God. These asanas help us to purify our speech, develop humility, begin to see ourselves as holy beings, see our teachers as holy beings and ultimately to realize the sacred unity of All— the goal of yoga.

Inversions help to bring the many systems of the body into harmonious equilibrium, including, most importantly, the mind. The usefulness of inversions extends not only to the health of the physical body, but to mental tranquility and spiritual growth. The practice of inverted asanas may lead to Self-realization. When we turn our bodies upside down, we are literally turning our world upside down. It allows us to experience the advantage of different attitudes and ways to perceive. Everything you see as normal or typical is pulled out from underneath you. You are required to use both your intelligence and natural wisdom.

When we practice backbends we move into our future. The ease with which we can do that is revealed by how willing we are to forgive others who have hurt us. The tightness, fear and pain we encounter in back bending comes from past karmas which involve these others—we are holding onto resentment, blame and anger, unwilling to let go. When a teacher facilitates a deeper opening in backbends through assists, it helps us resolve the causes of our fear of the future.

Karmic Correlation
The practice of twisting asanas gives us the opportunity to address unresolved karmas that show up as pain, tension and lack of mobility in our bodies, all relating to those whom we have hurt in the past.
Twists can help us resolve issues with those past relationships and ultimately forgive ourselves for thinking that we needed to hurt others to gain something. When we hurt others it is coming from our own fear (of death), insecurity (lack of true self-confidence) and identification with our small self—the body-mind-personality (avidya).

Asana practice provides access to stored karmas and the opportunity for us to purify and to resolve them. Resolving relationship issues in these asanas means to bring the issue back to its starting point, allowing it to dissolve into itself. Unresolved issues are problematic because they can rise up at any time, distracting us and interrupting our progress. Asana practice is a spiritual practice that can lead to liberation, or enlightenment. It is nothing less than a system of perfecting relationships.