Curves

The importance of curves in our daily practice.

We have to avoid angular movements and adopt circular, spiral ones.  Do not attack the point you want to attain in the pose, but rather find your way to it by circling in small, light little curves (as flies and bees do when centering down, while they want to descend, aiming at a definite spot).

This kind of "spiral-circumferic" gesture penetrates in depth and can bring about unexpected results.

There are no beginners or advanced students-- the first step is the last step.  This means the fundamental principles, such as this one, are the same in all the asanas.  However, they have to be clearly explained by the teacher and fully understood by the pupil.

- Vanda Scaravelli p.50

The Song of the Body

There is a way of doing yoga poses that we call "asanas" without the slightest effort.  Movement is the song of the body.  Yes, the body has its own song from which the movement of dancing arises spontaneously…… This song, if you care to listen to it, is beauty.  We could say that it is part of nature.  We sing when we are happy and the body goes with it  like waves in the sea.

- Vanda Scaravelli p.28

Be kind to your body

You have to learn how to listen to your body, going with it and not against it, avoiding all effort or strain and centering your attention on that very delicate point, the back of the waist (where the spine moves in two opposite directions).  You will be amazed to discover that, if you are kind to your body, it will respond in an incredible way.

- Vanda Scaravelli p.16

Not pushing and pulling

Each of the yoga poses is accompanied by breathing and it is during the process of exhalation that the spine can stretch and elongate without effort.  We learn to elongate and extend, rather than to pull and push.  Elongation and extension can only happen when the pulling and pushing has come to an end; this is the revolution.

It is not so much the performance of the exercises that matters, but rather the way we are doing them.

- Vanda Scaravelli, Awakening the Spine p. 10 and 24