Yoga reminds us that we have the gift of choice in each moment. With a finite amount of time to practice yoga, I engage muscular energy throughout my practice to generate fitness benefits in addition to mental and spiritual well-being.
What is muscular energy? It is one of the general principles of yoga alignment I seek in every pose. In colloquial terms, it is removing the jiggles and the wiggles from my thighs, biceps, triceps and other muscles so that I form a deep connection with each pose. It’s the drawing inward of my limbs toward the midline of my body, forming a foundation from which I build and grow.
How does muscular energy change your poses? Follow the simple steps below and experience the difference in a few standard poses. Muscular Energy in Mountain Pose
- Take the pose. Find your breath. Close your eyes and look inward to feel how the pose resonates in your body at this moment.
- Lift the toes and flair them wide. Set them down one toe at a time and activate them as fingers into the earth.
- Begin to hug your feet toward one another, lighting up the inseam of both legs.?
- Firm your thighs and lift your kneecaps.
- Roll your inner thighs back and lengthen your lower back.
- Draw a low belly toward your spine and then scoop it toward your heart.
- Lift from your heart, broadening your collar bones and drawing shoulder blades closer to one another.
- Press palms together at the heart centre, firmly engaging the biceps and shoulders.
- Drop the chin slightly and lengthen the sides of your neck.
- Feel the crown of your head as an extension of your heels.
- Notice that you begin to quiver while keeping all of these areas engaged.
- Now, balance this full-body muscular energy with a degree of softness or ease so that the pose is also sustainable while deeply engaged.
Let’s try one more… Muscular Energy in Downward Dog
- Take the pose. Find your breath. Close your eyes and look inward to feel how the pose resonates in your body at this moment.
- Hug your feet toward one another as if you wish to squish the sticky mat between them.
- Engage your calves as you lengthen your heels toward the mat.
- Firm your thighs and lift your kneecaps.
- Roll inner thighs back and lengthen lower back.
- Draw a low belly toward your spine and then scoop it toward your heart.
- Roll the upper arm bones away from the ears and hug the shoulder blades around the sides toward the front of your body, drawing your shoulders firmly toward your torso.
- Hug the forearm bones and hands toward one another.
- Paw at the earth with your fingers, engaging the entire hand.
- Allow the neck to stay loose.
- Notice that you begin to quiver while keeping all of these areas engaged.
- Now, balance this full-body muscular energy with a degree of softness or ease so the pose is also sustainable while deeply engaged.
This concept deepens and engages your practice overall and pays dividends in building your physical fitness. Plus, you may also begin to think of Jello every time you step on the mat. Why not? Jello makes me smile!
