You must have heard the term ‘alignment’ since the time you entered the yogic realm. And, probably there is a huge debate and discussion around it. So, let us decode what ‘alignment’ actually means. Yoga alignment mainly describes how the body parts are aligned in any yoga pose. It may include straight lines and stacks of bones, to be exact. However, it is not about some rigid structure, which you have to abide by at all costs. Yes, it is flexible. According to the best yoga school in Rishikesh, Gurukul Yogashala, each one has a different body alignment, yet they can deliver the same benefits.
It is about using the main principles of alignment, modifying the poses a bit according to one’s comfort, and using props for support. You will learn in detail about such nuances related to alignment, as a part of the 200 hour yoga teacher training course in Rishikesh. No matter which route you take, the ultimate goal is to do the asana according to your comfort and reduce the probability of injuries. You will also learn from learned teachers that not all bodies look the same in the same structure or alignment. So, that is yet another angle to it. Let us find out the different aspects of alignments here today.
Types Of Alignment
There are mainly two types of alignments, functional alignment and aesthetic alignment. You need to know about both of these, if you are looking to enhance your self-practice, or want to teach yoga to others in the future.
- Functional – This is concerned with the biomechanical aspects of the body. Biomechanics revolves around the structure of each body part and the way it moves. This goes into arranging the body, while not crossing the physical limits. Functional alignment focuses on the safety and higher performance levels of the body. Take for example, in standing asanas or poses, the head, neck, and spine are supposed to be in one straight line. This type of arrangement improves mobility and also stabilizes the structural components.
The shape of the bones and muscle structure differs from one individual to another. Thus, certain people can do certain poses easily, while others have to keep on practicing the same, to get it right. The best 200 hours yoga teacher training in India, covers such aspects. So, you can understand all these functionalities at a much deeper level, in the yoga teacher training course in Rishikesh, which will come in handy, when you are teaching a group of students.
- Aesthetics – This is the second aspect related to alignments, which makes a pose look beautiful to the onlooker. Perfect straight lines and 90-degree angles assume a lot of importance in this arena. However, everybody is different. So, one incumbent may never be able to achieve that beautiful structure that others aim for. If stacking the body parts according to the guideline is not possible, one can widen the stance.
You can decide for yourself, which is more beneficial, functionality or aesthetics.
Importance Of Alignment In Yoga
Alignments assume a lot of importance in yoga practice. You must learn how to align your body, based on your anatomical structure, strength, and flexibility. There are several reasons why you need to pay attention to it.
- It helps in creating a safe environment for practice. If you use proper functional alignments, then you can never get hurt. You have to develop awareness while doing yoga. Awareness of your body will help you to understand what it feels like, when you move the body parts. To protect the body from all possible injuries, it is important for you to not force yourself. Instead, a great teacher will likely advise you to use props. The yoga teacher training in Rishikesh teaches you all such nuances, in detail.
- Practicing the right alignments also benefits your foundation. If your basic foundation is strong, you can move through modifications and variations according to your comfort, easily. Now, if you have to build a strong foundation, you need to first concentrate on building strength and flexibility in the right areas. If you learn how to incorporate the right alignments, you can also work on the right muscles and connective tissues. This makes progress easier. You can use props to join two different areas, without forcing them into it. With time the flexibility in the said regions grows. If you utilize proper alignments and modify a few poses, rather than forcing yourself to get into a certain stance, you can get the best benefits of the pose.
- The main reason why people practice yoga is that it is a movement-based modality that anyone can do. When you incorporate the best alignments in your poses, you can reap the actual benefits. Yoga can help you with strength-building in numerous ways. Once being that, you sometimes get to lift your body weight, with your hands, in arm balancing positions. But if you are doing the alignments all wrong, it will have downsides.
- Alignments also help in increasing your efficiency, when you are doing yoga poses. If your poses are anatomically correct, the energy flow happens unhindered. Therefore, you can achieve more, with fewer inputs. Correct alignments can make you do difficult poses easily. In a short time, you will get more in return.
Thus, that answers your question of how practicing the correct alignments can enhance your strength and flexibility. Gurukul Yogashala runs Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Teacher Training, which can benefit you in the above manner and probably more.
Now that you have realized the importance of alignments in yoga, in improving strength and flexibility, you should also know about a few cues that can set things right.
Alignment Rules That You Should Remember
The joints should be stacked one on top of the other, in one line. Your joints must be aligned vertically and horizontally as well. Nothing should jut out, in the course of your yoga program.
Neutral spine alignment is another important cue you should keep in mind. This assumes a lot of importance in folding poses. If done wrong, you can suffer from prolonged bouts of back pain.
Bending from your hips in forward folds is also considered important. All those with a hunch problem will never be able to get the actual benefits of a pose if they do the pose wrong. The rounding of the back has to be avoided at all costs.
In plank poses or lunges, the heels have to be placed directly above the toes. It leads to proper weight distribution.
These are just a few instances of proper alignments. You can learn more about them in the best yoga teacher training in Rishikesh. Gurukul Yogashala has taken yoga education to an all-new level, where you get complete theoretical knowledge along with hands-on training.
Conclusion You must make alignments a habit, to make them more automatic. Keep the cues in mind, every time you practice yoga. Joining the best yoga school in Rishikesh will open a whole world of knowledge for you all. Gurukul Yogashala has the perfect approach to teach you alignments, in an experiential manner, so that you can enhance your practice and that of the others as well.