Standing Asanas are not practiced from the spiritual point of view. They are the foundation for ‘the practice‘.
Standing Asanas, in every traditional method of asana practice, helps in “awakening the Pranas”. Without Pranas awakened, there’s no progress of Practice.
Therefore, Surya Namaskara is always the beginning of asana practice. Surya is the source of Prana.
With salutations to Surya with Sun Salutations, standing asanas help in channelizing all the five pranas.
It doesn’t mean standing asanas are less relevant. They are like the foundation of a building. Though they are not the main part of the practice, there’s no practice without proper standing asanas.
Implementation of Standing Asanas in ‘Teaching Yoga Class’
Use more standing asanas in the beginner’s classes
Standing asanas help the physical body move easily compared to any other section of the asanas. Sitting asanas or inversions do not allow a lot of movements.
Hence, beginners could always find it difficult, lethargic to focus more on any other section compared to standing asanas.
Standing asanas in Intermediate Classes
In intermediate classes, spend around one-third of the class time in standing asanas.
If you have 90 minutes class, you should be spending around 30 minutes for the first part i.e. standing asanas.
The sequencing of Standing Asanas
Here are a few points to consider when you sequence standing asanas.
* Surya Namaskara (in every traditional style of asana practice) is always a good foundation & warm-up before the standing asanas.
* Emphasis is on the lower part such as toes, feet, knees, and pelvis in the standing asana practices.
* Every standing asana, in general, is a hip opener. Therefore, use them intuitively and mindfully to get properly prepared for the sitting asana practices.
* Once standing asanas are practised by your students, you wouldn’t come back again after some sitting asanas. There is a progressive movement, no backward movement.
* You can see the glimpses of the entire practice in the standing asanas as they are creatively connected with other sections of the practice.