4 yoga poses inspired by animals and their meaning

Sometimes we need a memory that we as humans are also animals! We have always been living in addition to birds and bees and have been living with animals such as dogs and cats as companions for thousands of years. While Indian communities worship ghost animals as leaders, the ancient Egyptians believed that cats were magical and brought the owners good luck. In India, cows are considered sacred, and there are many texts that deal with animal bereavement (or zoolatry) and indicate that the falling in love of the primitive person into the animal kingdom has arisen from a curiosity of animals that had imitative properties.

In the yoga world we can see how animals have delivered inspiration in the form of Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward dog), Kurmasana (turtle keeping) and Garudasana (eagle keeping). Religions that have influenced yoga, such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, symbolically use all animals, and old stones and artifacts that were discovered in the industal show carving and representations of rhinos, elephants and bulls. One of the most controversial and important found stones that are connected to the beginnings of yoga itself even shows what scholars and historians have called the "Lord of the Animals" - also viewed by many as the god Shiva.

No matter whether you have researched the origins of yoga and its mysterious history or just enjoy practice because of its physical and mental advantages, we can still deepen our understanding of yoga by learning more about the postures. In many yoga poses inspired by animals, the original intention was not to "do" only the shape, but to embody the properties and energy of the animal itself. Read on to be inspired by how you can embody four important animal Asanas in your practice!

adho mukha svanasana

Dog pose

Although this specific attitude does not occur in old Hatha yoga texts, there is an almost identical Asana called Gajasana (elephant attitude), and it is recommended to repeat this attitude in Sritattvanidhi, 19, "over and over again" ^{th Century Mysore palace script (if you ask yourself so often in Ashtanga or Vinyasa Flow Style Classes occurs!) When we practice down the dog, we will be reminded of how people from animals have developed that went on all fours. And studies show that we combine our original primitive strength again when we take hands and knees or even "crawl". This type of position also has mental advantages because it strengthens the neuronal connections and improves the communication of the brain between the left and right hemisphere, makes our reflexes more efficient and improves our general movement ability. If we know all of this, we might be able to plan our time in a dog -down dog to let go of the outdoor, technology -driven, stressed human life and spend some time in the way of thinking of the increasingly curious, playful, not more expectant and of course strong dog.}

Kurmasana

turtle husbandry

BKS Iyengar said that this attitude is dedicated to Kurma, the incarnation of the turtle of Vishnu, and that there are many variations that range from simple and accessible to complex and require a lot of flexibility in the knee tendons, hips, spine and shoulders. Regardless of which variant of the Asana you choose, you can deepen your experience and awareness by embodying the properties of the turtle yourself. In many cultures, the turtle stands for deep wisdom and knowledge, patience and durability and is also the personification of immortality, fertility, moon and earth. It is important today that we can use this attitude to get in the mood for silence, to remember the advantages of a slower life and take the time to absorb what we learn and experience, and to convert it into wisdom. Kurmasana The attitude itself can be a place where you turn inwards and practice Pratyahara or "deprivation of meaning". If you practice them regularly, you can combine us with a feeling of self -observation and calm that the turtle represents in many religions.

Garudasana

Advisory

The fast, sharp and predatory eagle is often portrayed in the culture of the American indigenous people as a symbol of strength, leadership and vision. Spiritually, it represents a connection to divinity because the eagle flies higher than other birds. If you have already practiced Garudasana, you know how much focus and strength the attitude needs to maintain over a longer period of time. This encourages us to stay concentrated and to cultivate Eka Graha or "one-pointed focus" when we need it in life. Adler can also remind us of looking at situations from a different or "higher" perspective and knowing that under all circumstances they have the potential to raise and fly higher than they might think!

Simhasana

lion pose

The lion's symbology stands for majesty, strength, courage and pride, and sometimes we all need a little lion energy! Simhasana contains the knees with a wide -open mouth and outstretched tongue and the skipping of a large, self -confident "Ahhhhhhh". When we open our mouth and create this sound, we not only solve physical tensions from the face, but also leave out emotional tensions. In order to be our strongest and brave yourself, it is useful to let go of things that hold back to us, such as self -confidence, concern or fear, and practice this asana with sound and breath is a wonderful way to remember how powerful we really are! With regard to the chakras, Simhasana helps to release the neck chakra, and encourages us to speak freely, to express our opinion and to roar occasionally!