Day 7
FOUR PARAMETERS OF VINYASA YOGA
In the Yoga Sutra; asana practice is explained in book II, sutras 46 and 47. Tiramulai Krishnamacharya and Srivatsa Ramaswami’s interpretation of these two sutras are quite illuminating and very practical.
Ramaswami, (a student of Krishnamacharya's for over 30 years) states that there are four main parameters of Vinyasa Yoga Asana practice: steadiness, relaxation (comfort), smoothness of breath and vigilant focus on the breath.
Sthiratva: steadiness
Sukhatva: comfort
Prayatna-shaitilya: Smoothness of breath
Ananta-samapatti: Unwavering focus upon the breath
BKS Iyengar’s translation is different:
prayatna saithilya ananta samapattibhyam
Perfection in asana is reached only when effort ceases, instilling infinite poise and allowing the finite vehicle, the body, to merge in the seer.
Source: English translation from Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (B.K.S. Iyengar)
