These classes are primarily aimed at strengthening and balancing our
foundation - a secondary benefit is a releasing upper body tension. The classes
are a good start point for newcomers and for people with lower back problems.
People with very bad back problems may want to consider a specialised six week lower
back course or a one-to-one
yoga therapy consultation as an alternative or compliment
to these classes.
The lower third of our body represents our foundation - the part of
our body which is responsible for all movement in the body and our movement into
the outer world. This part of the body also represents the foundation on which
the rest of the body sits and through the spine (which it governs) it is responsible
for our structural integrity and sense of physical self.
In Ayurvedic medicine the foundation is represented by Vata dosha. Ayurveda holds
Vata imbalance as the root cause of 60 percent of all disease. In addition - because
Vata is responsible for all movement in the body, it is the driving force behind
all doshic imbalance and is therefore also deranged in the other 40 percent of diseases.
Vata is also the dosha which is most responsibility for the state of our mind through
its control of the nervous system, our senses and brain. A strong foundation is therefore
the key to mental and physical stability.
The times we live in - characterised by a frenetic pace, increased stress, refined
foods, an increased use of sugar alcohol coffee and other drugs and stimulants, a
sedentary lifestyle, increased levels of mental work and less connection with the
earth - all serve to weaken the foundation and derange Vata.
While these classes focus on dealing with this problem from one level, a lifestyle
and diet which works counter to this will always undermine the good benefits from
yoga. If you are serious and committed to improving your life and prepared to take
responsibility, Ayurvedic lifestyle counseling can assist you to determine and implement
a lifestyle and diet which is most supportive for your individual constitution.
One way to think out about the importance of this part of your body is to compare
it to the roots of a tree. When a tree is strongly rooted in the ground the upper
parts can move freely without the tree falling over. If the roots are weak, strong
movements in the top of the tree will tip it over unless we place braces on long
the sides of the trunk and place anchors from the top down to the ground to limit
these movements. When you suffer from a weak foundation, the sides and top of your
body tighten and lock up to keep you stable. This has physical and psychological
implications.
From a spiritual growth perspective a strong foundation is key. Just as the height
of a building is determined by the integrity strength and size of its foundation,
our potential for spiritual growth - which is an inward and upward movement - is
determined by the integrity and strength of our personal foundation. If we attempt
to perform meditation with a weak foundation we will only get lost in our thoughts
and delude ourselves.
Physical implications of a weak foundation
In physical terms, the syndrome of a weak foundation manifests itself in a number
of ways. Weakness in the lower torso shows up as weakness in the lower back and weakness
in the reproductive organs and the organs of elimination: kidney, bladder and large
intestine. Weak elimination function can lead to a build up of toxins in the body
and a whole host of symptoms related to this. Arthritis, diseases of the bones and
nervous system are all related to poor function in this area. Poor memory function
is also connected to a weak lower torso.
The associated jamming up of the upper body presents in all sorts of ways - neck
and shoulder problems, tingling in the hands and problems with the respiratory and
circulatory systems.
Mental / Psychological implications of a weak foundation
Yoga, Ayurveda and Shiatsu are spirit-mind-body systems. This view holds that the
spirit, mind and body are connected intimately and, in a sense, they are individually
simply reflections of the same energy which has manifest in a different way - the
spirit is the lightest and most diffuse form of energy, the mind a more condensed
form, and the physical body is a solid form. An easy way to conceptualise this is
to look at water. It can exist in three phases: In a crystalline or solidified phase
as ice, in a liquid phase as water, and in a diffuse gaseous form as water vapour
or steam. Because of this we say there is a direct connection between physical disorder
and disorder in the mind and spirit.
A strong foundation creates a feeling of physical and mental stability and security
- a safe and stable platform, or container, from which to act. A weak foundation
creates feelings of instability, insecurity, stress which leads to fear of taking
action. It forces us to look outside ourselves for physical security which leads
to a self identity based on things from the outside such as our body, house, car,
job, money, sex, knowledge etc. This is known as a Tamasic or material mentality
in Yoga. If we are honest with ourselves we will recognise that this behaviour only
leads to more stress and worry - every time we buy something new it literally turns
around and owns us and in a sense keeps us trapped.
In Samkya philosophy, on which yoga is based, the Earth element aspect of the mind
governs the ego and sense of Self. Weakness in this area equals a weak ego (ahamkara)
and sense of Self. This is the guna of Tamas which is devolutionary - a state of
ignorance, delusion. Weakness here keeps us stuck in the past and in the state of
"Deep Sleep" to our true nature. If you are a Christian, this is equivalent
of the forces of evil and darkness.
When our physical foundation is strong, our sides and upper body are flexible. This
flexibility provides us with the capacity to be flexible and act spontaneously. The
upper body, which we use to express ourselves and relate to the world, is free and
open and these aspects of our functioning work well. Rigid sides and upper body manifest
as a lack of flexibility, a need to be in control, and a reduced capacity for Self
expression and true relationship.