 have the right characteristics to stimulate vitality and the ability to do things, something that we will need){kind=link}
Certain asanas (yoga postures) have the right characteristics to stimulate vitality and the ability to do things, something that we will need during the day.
Yoga asanas have both physical and psychological effects. They directly influence our energy, our vitality, and the way we manage it. Just observe how you feel after a few repetitions of the “sun salutation” (surya namaskar) in the morning.
With these ideal asanas to do in the morning, it is very likely that you feel more vigorous and more mental clarity. Let’s say they leave you ready to go out into the world and effectively do all that to-do list you have. I tell you in this article and, in addition, I show you the asanas that you should not practice late in the day.
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ASANAS SUITABLE FOR THE FIRST HOURS OF THE DAY
To understand the reason for this effect, we will study the characteristics of the movements of the sun salutation. In each of them we activate the force of thrust of the body towards the ground and we project. Projecting ourselves means guiding our movement with a goal. For example, when our hands seek to touch the ground, they take the reins of movement and the whole body is projected in the direction they define.
They are all sagittal movements, that is, flexion-extension movements. Let’s see now what link exists between these characteristics of movement and our psychological needs and capacities.
ABOUT THE PUSH
The thrust appears at the moment of the development of autonomy. It appears when the child, having devoted sufficient time to the exploration of fusion bonds, feels the need to distance himself from the person with whom he feels merged. They are those moments in which the baby usually pushes the adult who holds him and coincides with long periods of pushing towards the ground to be able to separate from him and access greater possibilities of movement.
In this phase of autonomy we develop the ability to take perspective, we initiate the processes of questioning, the bases of the capacity for analysis are forged. It is possible to think that by activating this type of movement we embody these psychological qualities.
ON SAGITALITY AND PROJECTION
On the other hand, sagittal movement and projection appear in the phase of human development in which the need to come into contact with the world and modify it develops. It is the moment when the child begins to move with a clear intention instead of moving by the pure exploration of movement.
While the child is in previous stages of development in which he is focused on linking to the other or conquering his autonomy, his predominant movements are torsion, tilting or homolateral movements and pushing. But the moment his interest in getting hold of an object is awakened, for example, sagittal movement and movement projection appear. He begins to crawl, then to walk, his hands and his whole body will be organized and oriented to achieve his goals.
That is, at the evolutionary moment in which we need to take action is when we develop sagittal movement and projection. We would say that by reproducing these movements when we perform the sun salutation, for example, we activate the psychological field linked to this evolutionary stage and thus awaken our need to achieve our goals.
In summary, by practicing sagittal movements while giving prominence to the push we are activating our capacities of analysis and action.
ASANAS THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED DURING THE LAST HOURS OF THE DAY
The asanas of the sun salutation series are therefore the most suitable for the morning and not so appropriate for the evening. To promote a good rest, we need to avoid what activates our mental activity or awakens our need to do. And we have just seen that certain movements, or rather, certain ways of moving, do it.
Remember to avoid the combination of flexion-extension with thrust and projection if you want to sleep like a baby. Reserve this type of movement for the first hours of the day and you will enjoy excellent energy throughout the day.
With what I have told you, surely you have already got an idea of the most suitable type of movement for the last hours of the day. I will talk more about it in a future article, as I invite you to experiment and observe the effects of your daily practices on your rhythms of rest and activity.
FIND OUT MORE
The link between movements and the activation of psychological characteristics linked to the corresponding evolutionary stages is developed in detail in the chapter “What Freud forgot to say”, from the book Thinking with the body, by Jade Tola. And it has been proven for years in “experiential anatomy” practices.
THE ASANAS OF THE SUN SALUTATION
- Pranamasana
- Until uttanasana
- Padahastasana
- Ashwa sanchalanasana
- Chaturanga dandasana
- Ashtanga namaskar
- Bhujangasana
- Chaturanga dandasana
- Ashwa sanchalanasana
- Padahastasana
- Until uttanasana
- Pranamasana