Sunstone's Earth 60, a power vinyasa flow class, requires minding transitions between poses and conserving energy by maximizing breath. In Earth, the focus is pace and sequence.
Sunstone's Fire 60 includes 32 asanas(exercises) arranged to safety and efficiently target the major muscle groups of the body and maximize their potential expression. In Fire, the focus is alignment.
Alignment is criticized as being overemphasized in western culture. Traditionalist's find the preoccupation superficial. I strongly disagree; Any yogi knows there is more at work in a strong pose than desire to look a certain way. The poses that impress do so because there is something fundamentally strong about straight lines, distinct angles, and rounded curves- this order that is not exactly unearthly, but absolutely requiring effort and concentration. The expressions that satisfy me are less-and-less a manifestation of caring about how good at yoga I seem, and more of a testament to accumulating understanding, discipline, and focus.
Earth had been challenging physically, but I couldn't help but be encouraged by the improvements in my conditioning since last time around. Fire week engulfed me. I was a metaphorical pile of ashes last Friday night. I came home, set-and-determined to crank out a few paragraphs for you through uncooperative fingers, and finally gave up because I couldn't see through my eyelids. Unsurprisingly, none of what I wrote made any since to me today accept this,
"Never forget that the only constant is change, and the most powerful forces for change are also the most fragile and temperamental."
My spirit had broken. Sadness is usually associated with that phrase, but I liken the way I felt to detachment from the results of training and my entire life really. There was my mind and my body, both defeated, and I was alone in the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
To keep warm we have to believe alignment is relevant. We have to allow beauty to glorify God. We have to believe that these things of order appear to remind us of the purpose we were created for. But most importantly, we have to accept that we are an animate heap of potential energy governed by natural laws- remembering how dangerous flames can be and how easily they go out when starved.
Accepting this responsibility is the spark.
I come to send fire on the earth and what will I, if it be already kindled.
Luke 12:49
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