Feature Posture - Posture #9

Trikanasana



What does Trikanasana mean?
In Sanskrit, it means "Triangle Pose"

This posture is an integrative posture; it uses tremendous strength and balance as well as flexibility to maintain the posture. Triangle is both physically challenging and mentally challenging; it demands your mind to micromanage your body in many ways simultaneously.

Triangle works every system, organ and gland of the body. A to Z, 360 degrees which makes Triangle the most therapeutic asana.

Triangle increases the strength and flexibility in the hips and tones the muscles on the sides of your torso such as the obliques and the intercostals. Flexing and strengthening the last five vertebrae in this posture can alleviate crooked spines as well as rheumatism and lower back. It improves every single bone, muscle, joint and tendon and internal organ and it revitalizes nerves, veins and tissues. Triangle is the perfect marriage between the heart and lungs meaning Triangle forces them to work together. Breathing deeply and consistently is the key to these systems working well together.

*One of the most important components of Triangle is to NOT put any weight on the fingertips touching the floor; doing so ruins the posture and benefits. So no pressure against the floor; just touch them lightly.

• When did you attend Teacher Training?
  I went to teacher training in the Fall of 2003.

• What is your favorite posture and why? Least favorite posture?
  Most favorite: My most favourite posture is, well I have two that I adore equally. Standing Head to Knee and Standing Bow Pulling pose are my absolute favourites! I look forward all class for these two postures and love that they are back to back. I love the focus and determination that Head to Knee requires and I love what bikram says about getting to the most advanced part, That as soon as you get your head to the knee "the Gods and the Goddesses will chase you"! Brilliant!
  
  Standing Bow pulling pose is just such a beautiful expression of the body and I find it totally liberating.
  
  Least favorite: My Least favourite posture is savasana. I find it to be the most difficult posture mentally. Physically savasana is pretty straight forward and I can manage the staying still part, It's the mental stillness that I struggle with the most...my monkey brain always seems to take over.

• What was your most memorable class and teacher?
  My most memorable class must have been my first class. My mom had convinced me to try this "hot yoga" class. I thought that it was going to be all chanting and light stretches....BOY WAS I WRONG! I had to run out of class half way through and , well...there's no nice way to put this...puke. But the next day I felt SOOOO wonderful...I knew that it had to be because of the yoga and it was!

• When did you attend Teacher Training?
  I attended the fall 2006 teacher training and came back feeling clear and present minded, with 300 new friends from around the world, and more physically healthy than I've ever felt before. It was a blast.

• What is your favorite posture and why? Least favorite posture?
  Most favorite: My favorite posture changes all the time, but I had decided that my new years resolution would be to hold my forehead to my knee, in "standing forehead to knee pose" without falling out, for longer than the time required. The mental and physical benefits of this posture are so precious that it is really a very tempting posture to perfect. My plan of attack is to practice patience in every step and to kill myself at this part of class until my cardiovascular, muscular, skeletal, nervous, and repertory systems all work in harmony to finally perform this posture with consistent grace. I really want it, so as all things we are determined on in class, I am confident that I will achieve this goal. As much as I hate saying this, I know that if teachers guide and push me hard in this posture, I am guaranteed that this New Year's resolution will be resolved soon. So now I decide that the posture I once hated most will soon be my favorite.
  
  Least favorite: My least favorite posture is "standing separate forehead to knee pose" because of the throat choked feeling, also because I feel lonely starring at my belly button the whole time. Actually any of the compression postures are a challenge for me, but some days are better than others, and I know what the benefits are so I try to breathe calm and hold still with the Mantra that this too shall pass.

• What was your most memorable class and teacher?
  My most memorable class was week 6 at teacher training. A teacher nicknamed "the Spanish Dude" taught a very simple class with very basic timing, and perfect dialogue. I felt so powerful and clear minded, and had made the decision during the first breathing exercise to stay with his every word and push as hard as he told me too, and to move with his dialogue with lightning bolt reaction no matter what. I was aware of my sudden super power strength, ease, and determination, but decided not to react to the joy I was feeling until the absolute end of class. This one experience proved to me that I can if I decide to. And sometimes I try to bring that simple teaching style to my classes with silent dedication to "the Spanish Dude".
  
  My most memorable teacher is Bikram himself. He is so entertaining.

BYV has an immediate opening for a General Manager to manage all its 3 Vancouver studios.

If you are interested, please follow the link below to see the description:

General Manager Position (PDF)

Lisa went to California to judge the 5th annual International Yoga Asana Championship Bishnu Charan Ghosh Cup 2008; here's what she brought back!

For new students we now offer a one week unlimited yoga for $30. So bring your friends in!

We donate all our Lost and found items to charity every month so please remember to pick up all of your belongings. Emergen-C will be available for sale at our studios.

Thank you all for being on time; the focus in the class has been greater than ever before. We also appreciate students staying in the room for the entire duration of the class.

Lastly, do you have FACEBOOK?

Check out our group Bikram's Yoga Vancouver

• Please turn off all cell phones and refrain from talking while in the yoga room.
• Please leave all belongings in the changing room and there are lockers for storage.
• Be mindful of your neighbor's space and visibility in the mirror.
• It is better to lie down and relax than to jump up and leave the classroom; however if it is necessary, please return to the room when class is in savasana rather than in a posture.
• Release expectations, open your mind and trust the process.