Sitting. It’s kind of the alpha and omega in yoga. Yes, sometimes we start standing but not every style. Many styles start with a sit. And typically, we end by sitting up from savasana to chant and bow in gratitude to the teacher.
In a personal opinion post, sitting is part of my “Fierce Fundamentals”. Some teachers think that it is so powerful to be able to sit still, meaning without moving, that you don’t need to do any other supplementary meditation techniques. One such teacher is Sadguru. Even Hareesh, the founder of Tantrika Institute and respected Classical Tantra teacher, has “sitting still” as one of the first lessons in his Foundations of Tantra course.
Sadguru says asana (postures) are about precision and meticulousness. They bring about clarity. Clarity helps alleviate tension and stress. Clarity helps us sharpen our discernment. Clarity, thus, helps us relax. But what’s the big deal with sitting still? Well, you could say it’s the goal of ALL the other postures. The other postures are only to help you become flexible and relaxed enough to sit and sit still and for a time long enough where you can relax. So deeply, that is, you feel you are just BE-ING or being Being or can be the Being you truly are. There are some interiorized yoga practices that focus on the central channel. You must be able to sit up and sit still to perform these. It is also easier to receive the transmission (of the philosophical aspects of the spiritual path if you can sit still. Sitting still, it is thought, is the greatest facilitator of Self-Realization, the goal of yoga and tantra.
Learn detailed instructions on how to sit and other fierce fundamental postures.
Easy pose, Raver J.