Good day, Steemians!

Yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory. -- Pattabhi Jois

If you want to get into a daily movement-based yoga practice, PRIMARY SERIES is as good a place as any to begin.

Primary series is also called Yoga Chikitsa, which is Sanskrit for yoga therapy.

Once you get the hang of it, you recognize the pattern: each session starts with a warm up of sun salutations A & B, move into standing poses, then seated, then inversions, backbends, and finishing poses. Traditionally, it is always the same sequence of poses.

Primary series is a routine that comes from ashtanga yoga, which is a highly disciplined, structured practice with plenty of solar, masculine energy.

This can be sweet: the hatha (movement based) practice programs muscle memory so the mind can chill out already, or it can be challenging: the same series of poses every day can get boring, plus the high strain of a few repetitive motions may cause injury if alignments are overlooked.

It's all in perspective. There's much more to ashtanga than the asanas (= poses) of course, but they can be a great way to begin your study & application of the other aspects of this 8 limbed practice.

This is primary series:

image source

Every movement is tied to an inhalation or exhalation; the breath carries the practice! And of course, there are numerous techniques for engaging the breath as well, but that's a different post.

Vinyasas (= half series = essentially a sun salutation) serve as transitions between each and every pose; classically, a vinyasa is performed even for switching sides from right to left for the same pose.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUgtMaAZzW0

Primary series is often done in Mysore style, so named for the city of Mysore, India, where Pattabhi Jois taught. This is like an individual practice done in a group setting; everyone is moving through the routine at their own breath's pace. There is no single instructor to follow, and only the sound of breathing fills the room. This feels very natural to me; I'm not a fan of every person doing the same movements at the same pace, which is what you find in almost all Western yoga classes.

I believe the "teacher" is there to encourage proper alignments and to show the "student" how to develop a sustainable self-practice. Truly, the individual is the most important person in a yoga practice, and it is up to them to tune into their own breath and ability, instead of a "leader" telling them what to do.

As the yogi/yogini becomes more capable and confident in their own abilities, they can advance through second series (Nadi Shodana = nerve cleansing), and advanced series A, B, C, and D (also called Sthira Bhaga = divine grace)...or whatever! You're free to do whatever you want, whenever you want!

Yoga's super radical in that it teaches the yogi how to feel and harness his own power - feel free to give your body exactly what it needs each and every day! You may favor hip openers as part of your seated series over twists some days, or vice versa. There's no right or wrong way to move if it makes you feel good!!

I find it extremely beneficial to return to the familiarity of classic primary series if I'm feeling resistant to a daily asana practice.

Discipline is remembering what you want. -- David Campbell

I hope this inspires and motivates you to care for your body, mind, and spirit - you totally deserve it!

💛 Sara!