The series of asanas in our tradition have as exiting names as 42 asanas, 84 asanan, 36 asanas. 26&2 therefore means 26 asanas and 2 breathing exercises. The Original Hot classes follow this sequence.
The asanas are always in the same order and they are not tied together into sequences of movement. Each asana begins and ends by equal standing- standing still with your body neutral, balances and breath normal. You are grounded through your feet, focused and breathing calm. The series constantly moves from movement to stillness, effort and ease.
The standing asanas are fairly new and appeared in our tradition largely in the last century. They connect to a time when yoga was taking influences globally, because the India of 20th Century was certainly not isolated from the world. The modern yoga took influence from at least calisthetics, contortion, weight lifting and gymnastics.
The names of asanas can give a small clue to the ages of them. Where the older postures might be named after saints, animals or the lotus flower, the modern ones often describe the posture just as is:
Like for example dandayamana janushirasana:
Danda = ”Staff” or ”Stick.”
Ayama = ”Extension” or ”Stretching.”
Janu = ”Knee.”
Shira =”Head” or ”Top.”
Asana = ”Pose” or ”Posture.”
So roughly "standing head to knee pose"
The standing series is about half of the 26&2 class asanas.
Seisoma-asennot / Standing postures
2 x Ardha Chandrasana / Half Moon
2 x Padahastasana / Hands to Feet
6 x Utkatasana / Chair, chair on toes, chair on heels
2 x Garudasana / Eagle
2 x Dandayamana Janushirasana / Standing Head to Knee
2 x Dandayamana Dhanurasana / Standing Bow
2 x Tuladandasana / Balancing Stick
2 x Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Paschimottanasana / Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose
2 x Trikonasana / Triangle
2 x Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Janushirasana / Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee Pose
1 x Tadasana / Tree in half lotus
1 x Padanghustasana / Toe Stand
24 x neutraali seisoma-asento, equal standing tai tadasana (nimeäminen riippuu perinteestä)
The number of repeats is from the 90 minute class.
The sanskrit in the asana names is from West Bengal and written here like the write received it in various printouts in teacher trainings over the years. The spelling may differ from South of India - also there are differences between traditions where the same asana name migh refer to a completely different posture.
– Minttu
Comments are closed