I recently took a yoga writing gig that will have me regularly contributing about asanas. I teach so I thought it would be a fun way to succinctly challenge how I cue and be good prep for Level II training in the fall or winter.
Right off the bat my first task was modifications of Tadasana (Mountain Pose). I am not gonna recap what I wrote but this pose holds a special place in my heart from my Level I training from several years ago.
On the first day of YTT (yoga teacher training) the 10 of us enrolled in the class met and had our introductions with our three teacher trainers, one of them was a physical therapist who eventually became the person drilling us on anatomy and body mechanics. However here we were on the first day of a long program meeting under the pastel, 1,008 Lotus petal dome of the ashram located at the base of a beautiful canyon. This seemed like a safe space to grow and learn, right?
One of our first exercises was meant to be uncomfortable and push us into the squeamish spaces that would help us grow.
A rod was extended from the top of a closet with a string and a weight on the end. Our task was to take turns lining our bodies up as bilateral symmetrically as we could on either side of this string to experience a seven-minute Tadasana. We did this one at a time. Our pants were rolled up to make ankles and knees visible, clothing was tight or it was gone. The first five minutes of the exercise were so the teacher trainers and other nine trainees could examine our bodies in the pose. Initially they sat in front like they were watching TV then they were allowed to walk around like cats stalking prey getting as close to my body as possible without touching. The final two minutes were a critique of body mechanics and speculation of injuries and other weaknesses. As the person standing in the pose, you were not allowed to say a word for the entire exercise. At the very end you could confirm injuries or other body misalignment issues.
It was more than a physical challenge trying to be perfect, it was a quick jump-in-the-fire challenge to get over your monkey-mind ego and let your cohort rip you apart. Day ONE, YTT. It was a perfect precursor to what my next 17 weeks would be like and I do not regret any of it.
When people think Tadasana is easy I laugh. It is as easy as you make it but you can play with it to push your body. When going through a strenuous vinyasa sequence it is sometimes touted as the place where you can come to for catching your breath – this is not always true because it can continue to bring your heart rate up for a while. When I try to use it as a resting spot for prenatal students I add hip swivels because it can cause some of them to get light-headed and no one wants to see that. Tadasana is powerful, it is not a lazy man’s asana. It can be crafted to be steadfast and graceful.
I love the freshness you bring to such a homey pose.
I LOVE Tadasana & always include it in my classes….such an empowering & strong pose! Stand in Your Power!
I still teach Tadasana to my level 3 folks.
I teach it with their backs against a wall with a block b/w the upper thighs.
A nice prep pose for upside-down handstand!
(same thing with arms raised, fingertips at the wall, palms pressing toward the ceiling)
I love Tadasana. I agree it is such a powerful pose – it constantly changes from the novice through the experienced yogi. Great feet pose.