5 Ways to Reach Your Edge

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When you hold a yoga posture, what are you truly experiencing? To reach your edge is to hold a yoga posture at the edge of resistance. When you want to leave that position try to just stay there. The edge is the place for self-discovery, growth, and change. When you stay at the edge, your body learns a new way to move within a still position through micromovements and slight adjustments to ease into staying there. Your mind learns that it is not the only one in charge of movement. There are five ways to reach your edge…

  1. Find your edge. Your edge is the healthy limit of your body’s flexibility. There is a difference between extending your edge and pushing too much further. You find your edge by stretching muscles and tissue to the point of release in tension. The way to view the edge is a place where more stretch would be too much and any less wouldn’t be enough. Your edge is the perfect combination of pleasure and pain.
  2. Hold it. When you have found your edge the practice becomes holding it. You want to stay at your edge without letting up or pushing further. This steady acceptance of staying here at the edge is where you learn mental and physical discipline. You are safe to stay at the edge because you are balanced at the point of pleasure and pain. When you hold your edge you open yourself to new discoveries.
  3. Allow micromovements and sounds. When you have found your edge and you are holding it, that the time to allow nature to react. Your body might crack from adhesions releasing within the fascia and joints. Micromovements are part of holding a yoga posture that is what your body organically does. Allow the breath to expand and contract naturally within the posture. Allow freedom to your body to fully express itself while you hold your edge.
  4. Acknowledge pain. When you are reaching for your edge you want to respect the message of pain. You can hold a posture as long as it feels natural. Just because a certain recommendation says to hold for five minutes does not mean that you should do that. You want to understand the difference between pain and discomfort. It is not always comfortable to reach your edge but don’t stop there. When you feel sharp and bad pains you need to acknowledge that and do stop there.
  5. Slowly release your edge. When you have fully experienced the depths of your edge, you know when it is time to release. Consciously release your body out of that posture. Take your time and understand that releasing a posture is just as beneficial as holding the posture. After you come out of the posture, take a moment to absorb that experience. Use this time to integrate your edge.

About the Author

Lauren is a Kripalu Yoga Teacher. She studied her 200 hour teacher training in the Berkshire Mountains of Stockbridge, MA at the Kripalu School of Yoga and Ayurvedic practices. She is also a health coach with a background in nutrition and biology at Ursuline College. She is a writer and an artist. Her dharma or goal in her life is to spread compassion and knowledge.

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