Category: Stories Behind The Pose

Story behind the pose: Kapotasana

9/13/2017

In Sanskrit, kapota means “pigeon,” and asana means “pose.” So when you literally translate the word kapotasana, it means pigeon pose. It seems like a pretty accurate description of the pose, especially when you see kapotasana (pigeon) and eka pada rajakapotasana (one foot king pigeon pose). However, did you know the pose is actually named after the revered sage (yogi) Kapota?

Who Was Kapota?
Stories about Kapota appear in the Mahabharata and the Kalika Purana and detail his great accomplishments as a yogi. According to the Mahabharata, Kapota had no match In power, vigor, strength, vitality, and agility, "When he walked, it seemed his soul was several feet ahead of his body—he moved as though not touching the ground." Because of his ability, people called him the son of Garuda. You remember from an earlier post, Garuda is the mighty bird-god and the one the pose garudasana is named after.

Kapota's beauty and virility were well-known. Even Chitrangada, the daughter of a celestial nymph (Urvashi) was not immune and when he commanded her to marry him she could not resist. Plus, it was rumored that even the sons of Shiva--Bhairava and Vetal— sought guidance from Kapota because of his clear and perfect intuitive wisdom. In fact, he is believed to still be living. Legend says he visits the famous cave shrine of Amarnath in Kashmir once a year.

So, who knows, maybe if you practice kapotasana with steadiness and dedication, maybe you will reap some of the same level of accomplishment as the sage Kapota!

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (One Foot King Pigeon)

Kapotasana (Pigeon)

***DISCLAIMER***
Do not attempt any of these poses without the aid and supervision of a well-trained yoga instructor. Please be sure to consult a medical practitioner before starting any new exercise regime. This is particularly important if you are overweight, pregnant, nursing, regularly taking medications, or have any existing medical conditions. The information contained in this website may not be tailored to your current physical and mental health. Rock Climbing Yogi and Ann Seibert accept no liability whatsoever for any damages arising from the use of this website. As with any workout or yoga class, be sure to warm up properly and cool down afterward to avoid injury.

Icons edited and created from source artwork made by Roundicons from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC 3.0 BY

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Story Behind the Pose: Koundinyasana

8/23/2017

Eka Pada Koundinyasana (the pose dedicated to Koundinya) is an arm balance, In this pose the key to success is more related to leverage than strength. Therefore, in order to achieve this pose, we must have faith like Koundinya. Faith to find the middle way between balance and strength; belief in our self and physical ability (readiness) in order to achieve the pose.

Who was Koundinya?
The sage, Koundinya, was a royal court scholar. He is known for predicting Prince Siddhartha Gautama would become Buddha (the Enlightened One). This news was not well-received by the king. Nonetheless, Koundinya vowed to become one of the Buddha’s most dedicated disciples.

Eventually the prince (Siddhartha) decided to leave his life of luxury behind and followed Koundinya into the forest to live as an ascetic. They lived together for six years in extreme self-deprivation and harsh living conditions. Siddhartha's hope was to find enlightenment. Eventually Siddhartha decided this was not the path to enlightenment and left Koundinya, which greatly saddened Koundinya.

The Middle Way
However, on his own, the Buddha discovered that true happiness was a balance of both extremes, the material and the spiritual, and he called it the Middle Way.

The Buddha returned to Koundinya and the forest community to share his new philosophy. After initial trepidation, Koundinya became one of the Buddha’s first students and taught this Middle Way for the rest of his life.

The story of Koundinya is one of faith and belief. His trust and confidence in Siddhartha remained steadfast even when the Buddha ventured away from Koundinya’s own teachings.

Trying out the pose.
If you want to give a go at Koundinyasana A or B, below are two videos by a favorite yogi of mine, Kino. I hope you find them helpful. Please let me know if you gave the pose a try!

Koundinyasana A

Koundinyasana B

Icons edited and created from source artwork made by Roundicons from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC 3.0 BY

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Story Behind the Pose: Marichyasana

8/9/2017

Marichyasana
(modified)

There are eight (8) variations of the pose dedicated to the Sage Marichi. All are deep folds, twists and hip openers. They all help to calm your mind and extend your spine. Plus all that deep twisting helps give your internal organs a healthy squeeze.

CAUTION: Please don't attempt these poses without supervision and instruction from an experienced Astanga instructor.

Marichyasana A-D is part of the primary series of Astanga.
Below are all four poses and links to read more about the pose and how to achieve it.

Marichyasana A

Marichyasana B

Marichyasana C

Marichyasana D

SOURCE: Ashtanga Yoga Information

Marichyasana E-H is part of the fourth series of Astanga.
Below are all four poses and links to watch videos of Kino Macgregor working into and out of each.

Marichyasana E

Marichyasana F

Marichyasana G

Marichyasana H

SOURCE: Kino Macgregor

Who is Marichi?
Marichi was the son of Brahma, the divine creator. After Brahma created heaven and earth, he created ten sons (Mansaputras, which in Sanskrit translates to “sons born from mind”). Marichi is one of those ten sons. His name, Marichi, when translated literally, means a ray of light (either moon or sun rays). Mariachi symbolizes great power, wisdom, and the cosmic force of creation. He is considered as one of the most important and iconic characters in Hinduism and is revered by devotees and worshippers all over the world.

Marichi was married to Kala, who gave birth to their son Kashyapa, later known as the ‘Lord of Creatures’. Marichi's grandson was the sun god, Surya, who is also called the giver of life. This is the god to whomSurya Namaskara is dedicated. Last, but not least, Marichi's great-grandson was Manu, the father of humanity. The first three letters of Manu are man which is a Sanskrit root meaning ‘to think’, and it is this same Sanskrit root that gave birth to the English word man.

A few stories about Marichi

Dharmavrata's Curse
One day Marichi went to the forest to collect wood and flowers and returned to his home extremely tired. He called his wife Dharmavrata, and told her that she was to wash his feet for him. Just as Dharmavrata began to wash her husband’s feet, Brahma arrived. Dharmavrata did not know what she should do, should she continue to wash her husband’s feet, or turn her attentions to Brahma, who was Marichi’s father. She chose the latter and suffered the wrath of her husband.

Marichi became extremely angry and put a curse on his wife, turning her into a stone. Dharmavrata was naturally upset by this, believing that she was being punished unnecessarily. As a reaction to this, Dharmavrata began many years of meditation which were noticed by Lord Visnu who, impressed by her devotion, granted her a wish. All Dharmavrata wanted was to have Marichi’s curse lifted. Unfortunately, Marichi was such a powerful sage that this was impossible to do. Instead, Dharmavrata was transformed into a holy stone, which was desired by all gods.

Marichi & the Mahabharata
Marichi also appears several times in the Mahābhārata, which is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. The other is the Ramayana, In the Mahabharata, Marichi is there to celebrate the birth of Arjuna, another time he went to the deathbed of Bhishma, the teacher of Pandavas and Kauravas princes. In the Mahabharata (by unlucky coincidence) he fights on the side of the "bad guys" the Kauravas. When he dies on the battlefield he instructs his students about the Dharma. In the Bhagavata Purana he unties the God of Fire, Indra, by a ritual from the sin he committed by killing the demon Vritra. After his life on earth Marichi has risen into the Firmament as he became one of the stars in the star sign of the Great Wagon.

SOURCE: Tirisula Yoga

BENEFITS
Marichyasana massages abdominal organs, including the liver and kidneys. It stretches the shoulders. Stimulates the brain. Relieves mild backache and hip pain. Plus it helps to strengthen and stretch the spine.

THERAPUTIC APPLICATIONS
- Constipation
- Digestive problems
- Asthma
- Fatigue
- Lower backache
- Sciatica
- Menstrual discomfort

Icons edited and created from source artwork made by Roundicons from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC 3.0 BY

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Story Behind the Pose: Garudasana

7/26/2017

Garudasana
(Eagle Pose)

Known as the “eagle pose” in English, garudasana is actually named after a mythical bird. This divine creature, Garuda, has a white face, an eagle's beak, huge red wings and golden man's body.

He is the king of birds and the enemy of snakes. He is also a friend to man and there are many tales of Garuda helping in battles and rescues, fighting against injustice and terror. His cousin, Jatayu, is also a garuda and is sometimes described as a vulture. However, like Garuda is more than an eagle, Jatayu is much more than a literal vulture. Both Garuda and Jatayu represent a state of sustained attention to their purpose (dharma) which is of self-sacrifice and service to protect creation. Their enemy is ego, personified by Ravana in one of the tales below,

When ego (attachment to stuff, people, status, achievement, etc.) threatens to disrupt your yoga practice, try tapping into Garuda-energy to protect it!

When in Garudasana Contemplate Perseverance
As a vehicle of Vishnu, Garuda represents the aspect of divinity which sustains and protects the universe and creation. When assuming the pose of Garudasana, think of what it means to persevere and sustain. What qualities do you need to maintain the pose? How should you breathe? How do your muscles and bones feel? What is your energy level? Be acutely aware of every part of your body, breath, and senses. Be present. When your attention wavers, renew your commitment. How does the pose feel now?

Sample Sequence with Garuda

For more ideas, check out: Sequence Ideas or Garuda (Eagle) categories of my RCY blog.

A few stories about Garuda and Jatayu

Jatayu's Fight Against Ego
In the epic tale of the Ramayana, (whose main character Rama is the reincarnation of the Lord God Vishu) Rama's wife, Sita, is kidnapped by a demon (Ravana) in a flying machine called a vimana. Jatayu heard Sita's screams and saw Ravana flying off. In an effort to save Sita, Jatayu flew up and hit the vimana, knocking it to the ground.

Jatayu fiercely attacked Ravana with his sharp teeth and claws, but he was no match for the demon king. Ravan has ten heads and twenty arms and for every head or limb Jatayu cut off, another would grow back into its place before the severed part would hit the ground. Jatayu fought ferociously, but was loosing the battle. Ravana sliced of Jatayu's wings and escaped with Sita, leaving Jatayu mortally wounded.

Soon after the battle, Rama and his brother (Lakshmana) came upon Jatayu. They were also trying to save Sita. Jatayu whispered in broken breath, “Sita, Ravana, headed south....Rama, please, kill me. It is a blessing to die at the Lord's hands and in his presence.” Honoring Jatayu's request for a quick death, Rama shot one swift arrow through Jatayu's brave heart. Then he and Lakshmana gathered wood, built a pyre, and performed Jatayu's funeral rites with as much care as they would for a member of their own family.

Garuda's Protects Creation
Another story in the Ramayana describes how Garuda saved Rama (the reincarnation of the Lord God Vishu) from the warrior, Meghnad,

Meghnad was a great devotee of Lord Shiva, He spent many years praying to him. This pleased Shiva who bestowed on Meghnad many magical weapons. One was called the nagapaash. This armament unleashed supernatural arrows that when it hit its target became a large coiled snake, constricting the enemy.

During the epic civil war described in the Ramayana, Meghnad shot these arrows at Rama and Lakshmana, trapping the men, making it hard to move and impossible to fight.

In this moment of great despair, Garuda appeared in the sky. Thunder roared and lighting blazed, winds blew loudly. The mountains shook and ocean waves rose high. Rama's army watch in awe as Garuda approached the battlefield. As he flapped his enormous red wings, Meghnad's warriors fled.

Garuda tore at the snakes constricting Rama and Lakshmana. The snakes released their grip of the unconscious Rama and Lakshmana. Garuda leaned over the two gently fanning them with his wings restoring them back to life with his magical powers.

Icons edited and created from source artwork made by Roundicons from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC 3.0 BY

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Story Behind The Pose: Hanumanasana

7/5/2017

Hanuman the Monkey God

Most poses have relatable names. We understand the logic behind the name. For example, maybe it's literal, representing something we do like extended hand to bigtoe (utthita hasta padangustasana). Or, maybe an animal or item it might look like such as a tree pose (vrksasana) or a cat pose (marjariasana). However, the splits pose is named after Hanuman, the monkey god. Really?! Yep. However, once you hear the story about Hanuman maybe the name of Hanumanasana will make more sense to you.

Who is Hanuman?

Hanuman was born ½ god and ½ human. His mother was Anjana, who desperately wanted to be a mother. To make her dream come true, she prayed and prayed to the wind god, Vayu. Hearing her pleas, he decided to bless a few grains of rice. He sent them down to Anjana who immediately ate them. She became pregnant and soon gave birth to a little boy, called Anjaneya, which means son of Anjana. (Note: Anjaneyasana, the lunge pose, is also named after this guy.)

As a child, Anjaneya was extremely mischievous. One day, while looking up at the sky, Anjaneya thought the sun looked like a delicious mango. So he leapt up and tried to take a bite. This annoyed Surya, the Sun god, who struck him in the jaw (hanuh in Sanskrit) him with a lightning bolt. When Vayu (the wind god) heard his son had been hurt, he took a deep breath and sucked up all the air from the earth. Soon animals and people were suffocating. Yet, Vayu refused to release the air. To find a solution, the gods called an emergency meeting. They decided Anjaneya would be sent away from his mother to live with monkeys. There he got renamed Hanuman. However, to avoid future mischief, the gods cursed Hanuman with short-term memory, so he would never remember the true extent of his power.

When Hanuman got older her became friends with King Ram and his beautiful wife, Sita. In the Ramayana, an epic poem of India, the lovely Sita was kidnapped by an evil rival of Ram. Out of pure love for Ram and Sita, Hanuman went searching for Sita. He came to the edge of the ocean and knelt down to pray, in a pose similar to a kneeling lunge (Anjaneyasana). When he got up, out of pure faith and love, he gathered the courage to leap across the ocean. As he jumped, he reached out one foot toward the island where Sita was being held and the other reached back toward the land where he left Ram. Ah Ha! Now can you see the splits? This is what inspired the name of Hanumanasana for this pose!

Want to read more stories about yoga? Check out this book: Myths of the Asanas.

Icons edited and created from source artwork made by Roundicons from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC 3.0 BY

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Ann SEibert

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Story behind the pose: Kapotasana

Story Behind the Pose: Koundinyasana

Story Behind the Pose: Marichyasana

Story Behind the Pose: Garudasana

When ego (attachment to stuff, people, status, achievement, etc.) threatens to disrupt your yoga practice, try tapping into Garuda-energy to protect it!

Sample Sequence with Garuda

A few stories about Garuda and Jatayu

Story Behind The Pose: Hanumanasana

Hanuman the Monkey God

Who is Hanuman?

Places to find me teaching

Come Check out a class today!

Ann SEibert

Archive

Search

Story behind the pose: Kapotasana

Story Behind the Pose: Koundinyasana

Story Behind the Pose: Marichyasana

Story Behind the Pose: Garudasana

When ego (attachment to stuff, people, status, achievement, etc.) threatens to disrupt your yoga practice, try tapping into Garuda­-energy to protect it!

Sample Sequence with Garuda

A few stories about Garuda and Jatayu

Story Behind The Pose: Hanumanasana

Hanuman the Monkey God

Who is Hanuman?

Places to find me teaching

Come Check out a class today!

When ego (attachment to stuff, people, status, achievement, etc.) threatens to disrupt your yoga practice, try tapping into Garuda-energy to protect it!