When the technique of a posture is perfected, it is much easier to experience the feeling. Technique however, is always secondary to feeling; utter awareness of the energy circulating throughout the pranic body. In yoga, this 'feeling' is truly the most important aspect of a posture. Contrary to popular belief, a perfect asana is not about whether your shoulders are completely down, whether you can wrap your leg around behind your head, or whether you’ve totally balanced in the handstand; it’s about where your mind’s at. Yoga is not yoga without inward concentration, emptying the mind of thoughts, and focusing on synchronizing movment with the steady, rhythmic flow of breath. To be able to really experience a posture, this definitely must be the case!

Yogasana can help release accumulated emotional and physical tension that is stored in the body as a result of daily stress and strain. Tension is often related to the chakras and their corresponding emotions. For example, our head contains the pituitary and pineal glands, which relate consecutively, to the 'right to see' and the 'right to know'. People often scrunch up their faces and furrow their eyebrows with worry, indicating inner stress; the practice of yoga can very much help an avid student to relax these areas.

The shoulders, neck and throat are another problematic region which relate to will-power. We tend to feel pressure here when we are not communicating our emotions and creativity properly. Tension also accumulates in these areas when we try to take on too much individual responsibilty. Learning to ask for help when we need it and build community + learning is a key part of the yogic practice! A collapsed thoracic region is an indication of a blockage in the heart chakra, which could denote a lack of compassion or willingness to give. By practicing rigid karma yoga, one can rectify the situation!

Our knees tend to store feelings relating to love, i.e. 'knock knees' and a 'weakness in the knees' may be signs that an individual is fearful to go forward in life. Another common ailment, especially in today’s fast-food society is in the gut region or solar plexus, where blockages manifest as anger or a sense of victimisation. The practice of karma yoga allows the sadhaka to take responsibility for his or her actions, and accept that where he or she is in life is the result of past action and consequence. Essentially nothing is coincidental or random, every condition was preceded by some previous condition or action that led to present state. By understanding the laws of karma, we take back the power and learn to control our destiny!

Since such a vast array of issues come up and out of the body when stretching, it is vital that yogasana practitioners maintain constant awareness and find the balance between pushing themselves too hard or not challenging themselves enough! Understanding that yogasana works not just on the physical level, but also serves to release energy blocks and allow prana to circulate freely, helps one to understand corresponding feelings and emotions that arise during practice.

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