TAI CHI YOGA PRINCIPLE # 8
Twisting – One of the 5 Types of Yoga Movements
Consider what we do when we wring water out of a towel. We grip the end and turn the hands in opposite directions. When we do, the water is squeezed out. When done, the towel feels lighter and more quickly dries back to its normal condition.
Now consider the excess “water” or tension we hold in our spines. We can stretch it out with forward and reverse yoga stretches. but those never seem to fully release and relieve the tension.
Solution? Yoga twists
Like the towel being wrung to squeeze out the excess water, a yoga twist wrings out the tension from the spine. And like the towel being wrung in opposite directions, a yoga twist wrings the spine by twisting it simultaneously in opposite directions.
John in a seated spinal twist 2019
Let’s look at how we squeeze tension from the spine. In the photo above, the left hand is positioned behind the body. The left leg crosses over to the outside of the folded right leg. The right hand holds onto the left leg wherever it can. It “LOCKS” into this position. Then, with the proper stomach breathing, the upper body, neck, and head twist or turn back to the left while the right hand and arm push against the LOCK created with the left leg.
Be gentle at first. But if you have created the LOCK correctly, you will immediately feel the spine twisting or being wrung, especially as you exhale. And how do you think you will feel after twisting both sides?
Limp and relaxed just like the towel (if it could feel).