Folding Canvas
I’ve always been a great fan of Japanese minimalist art. It is fascinating how the principles of Ikebana – flower arrangement, Haiku – aphoristic wisdom poetry, and Origami – single paper shape shifting can directly apply to Yoga. As a yoga newbie, about twenty years ago, struggling with my tight tendons and inflexible joints I would imagine my body was a blank sheet that could fold in any direction and crease at any angle, chiseling itself into a malleable sculpture – subtle and intricate, like an ever-unfolding masterpiece of Origami. Back then I was hooked to Japanese minimalist aesthetics and would sit for hours to fold paper into boats, airplanes, tri-dimensional crystals and abstract animals. I marveled how one uncut square, folded alone into an infinite lacework of lines, shapes, patterns, states of beings and forms. Once you start folding the piece guides you into the next move, you don’t have to follow any template, but abide by the only rule of thumbs – no cutting, or gluing. Like Origami, yoga is an experiential sculpting of our consciousness through the inherent plasticity of the brain and body. We fold and unfold the body into myriads of patterns, shapes, states of embodied mindfulness. Our body is like a single papyrus on which we inscribe our experience through mindful breath, movement and divine geometry.
Our joints are the potential creases that create different angles for the brain images to manifest as they form new neuro-pathways to channel energy flow and facilitate soul expression. The hips, shoulders, knees, elbows, wrists and neck are the folding agents that extend, rotate and flex to provide optimal mobility and freedom of movement, whether mental, physical or spiritual. The glue is the synovial fluid that lubricates the joints and is produced by committing to a proper enzyme rich diet, regular cardio-vascular exercise, healthy muscle toning and resistance stretching. A “Yogea” class targeted to ensure joint longevity provides all the above benefits, while also promoting glandular secretion and stimulation of the subtle bodies. This in turn, creates a cognitive body and a flexible mind – a body that expands its mobility and flexibility range, while broadening the awareness to encompass an all-inclusive universal consciousness.
Amazingly, the joints are the articulators of our “Voice” – our true identity. As we increase joint suppleness we indirectly refine our body’s vocabulary to engage into a resonant dialogue with our inner and outer reality, and even wider – to enter into an ongoing conversation with the world. Alternatively, every joint pain or discomfort is like a spiritual alert flashing and signaling the need for change. The ancient yogis claim that if you knees ache it is time for re-orientation. If your hips feel blocked you ought to clear away stagnant emotional residue. If your shoulders feel tight you need to boost your confidence. If your wrists feel weak you should consider refining the quality of your expression. If your ankles are wobbly you need to ground and trust more. If your elbows feel cranky you should open your heart and give amply.
Apart from detecting the spiritual subtext of joint ache, it is essential to tend caringly to the joints and make sure our diet is rich in vegetable protein, saturated oils from nuts and seeds, minerals and vitamins contained in leafy greens and legumes, and collagen-promoting plant-based substances like wheat germ. Consider that deep colored red and blue berries and fruits packed with “phyto-nutrients” help the collagen fibers link together in a way that strengthens the connective tissue matrix, while green tea, contains “catechins” and helps prevent breakdown of collagen. To provide proper joint care we should consider muscle toning (regular fitness, outdoor sports or yoga routines), cardio work-out (elliptical, cycling, stepper, etc) and resistance stretching (yoga asana or stretching exercises.) There is a common misconception in yoga that the more flexible you become the better your joints will function. While flexibility gained from a regular asana practice is key to well-lubricated ball and socket, and hinge joints, it should not come at the detriment of maintaining healthy muscle tone. As a yoga novice I would put too much emphasis on attaining hyper-flexibility and neglect the muscle strength. I would commit to a 4 hour daily yoga practice and eventually fold into a pretzel and groom my ego, only to realize twelve years, later that my approach was limited and unilateral. I could do incredible things with my body, but my overall muscle tone and the connective tissue that held the joints decreased. This later led to degenerative wear and tear, and even surgery. It was not yoga’s fault. I was the only one to blame, because of overindulgence in one extreme and a failure to honor the main yogic principle of “Non-violence.” It was again Yoga that helped me recover, while reconsidering the entire approach to my practice. I began strengthening while stretching, added a cardio regimen in my fitness routine, switched my diet from purely vegan to vegetarian and approached the asana practice from the perspective of adequate energetic and anatomical alignment, heeding the oppositional pull that informs every asana. The effect was somewhat wholesome. My joints were cushioned, my alignment improved, my hyper-flexibility was shielded by strong and resilient muscles and supple tendons. I was able to apply these qualities of safe suppleness to my life and things started flowing abundantly and with great ease.
For the past 5 years I have been creating innovative asanas to support and lubricate the joints and to boost the production of synovial fluid that wears out with age; to give the joints proper bio-mechanical, energetic and even a spiritual treat. I have also incorporated the highly beneficial art of Qi-Gong and martial arts into the yoga practice to promote a steady and floating center and inter-joint buoyancy. You will experience an integrated practice with this Yogea routine for supple joints.
Honoring the exquisite art of Origami, imagine your body is a blank canvas, your mind and spirit – a brush that could paint endless landscapes of variety, depth, complexity, beauty and freedom. Freedom in motion – motion of peace!
Yoga for Joints’ Health: Folding Canvas
This Yogea routine targets all the joints in the body equally and integrates Qi-Gong kinetic meditation and warm up practices with yoga asana. It starts standing to promote a strong sense of center and prepare the main joints for action. Standing, sitting, kneeling and reclining circular movements of the joints boost the production of synovial fluid, while lunges and standing poses build strength and flexibility, while stretching and cushioning the joints with connective tissue. A series of forward and back bends, twists and semi-reclining poses tone the muscles and expand the mobility range to facilitate proper articulation of the ball & socket, and hinge joints. Soothing forward bends and hip openers alternate with shoulder and neck stretches to bring an overall sense of freedom of motion and imagination. The sequence ends with creative visualization cultivating a quality of buoyancy and freeing up space for purposeful action.
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