Understanding Pose Categories

If you want to master Asana it isn’t about contorting your body + forcing shapes.

It is about understanding the impacts each pose has on your physiology, nervous system, mind + energetic state.

So you know when + how to use them to suit you best.

Here is a light guide exploring 4 of the main pose categories in traditional practice 👉🏻

꩜ Backbends or Back Extensions

Impacts ~

Nervous System:

Sympathetic, prepares for action.

Energetic:

Brahmana, activates + accelerates.

꩜ Forward Folds

Impacts ~

Nervous System:

Parasympathetic, Calms + recovery state.

Energetic:

Langhana, steady state + slow down.

꩜ Twists

Impacts ~

Nervous System:

Parasympathetic, Calms + recovery state.

Energetic:

Samana, creates inner balance, before becoming Langhana, steady state + slow down.

꩜ Inversions

Impacts ~

Nervous System:

Parasympathetic, Calms + recovery state.

Energetic:

Langhana, steady state + slow down.