By Margot (Manikya) Garritt

Interviewed by Lissa (Yogyananda) Fountain, Yogaratna

After years of reduced mobility and difficulty standing upright due to tension, I decided to amp up my Svaroopa^® yoga practices.

For extra support, I added online classes to my home practice. Walking improved a little, yet nothing seemed to reach completely into the tension in my jammed right hip.

Then last year, my online classes began to include the new YogaBody poses. I became more grounded and present in my body. Clearly, I needed the support from these deeper YogaBody poses and the Ashram swamis as well as local teachers trained to offer the new poses.

I was well prepared for immersive YogaBody teacher training last spring. Being able to learn in person with other teachers and our Teacher Trainers made a difference. I got the precise alignments and encouragement I needed. Away from home responsibilities and settled into being a student, I had a genuine breakthrough.

My “aha” moment happened in Parshva Setu Asana (Angled Bridge Pose). Not your average bridge pose!  It was a more challenging pose, but the changes were instant and obvious. Afterward, resting in Shavasana with my legs outstretched, the hip tensions were gone as my right leg extended long and soft into the floor.

The magic of this deeper pose had released some formerly ingrained pattern. As our training material explains, it allowed me to engage my “biggest and strongest muscles to move and release the tightest areas” in my body. Now, as I continue to practice this pose, I experience a new ease in standing and walking.

Corresponding emotional and mental patterns were unraveling as well. At home, family complications and old memories had been rising. Going back to the YogaBody poses and sitting with japa afterwards led to a huge shift inside. My breath opened up. I was able to let go. I have more clarity now and can move forward without hanging onto the past.

So much Grace flows through our lineage and these teachings. I feel so much gratitude for it all. These poses carried me through several travels since the training.

I feel empowered by the greater capacity for self-care that I have developed as a result. I look forward to continuing online classes in addition to the Ashram’s yoga therapy sessions.

The current discounts for online Ashram yoga therapy are also a great incentive for this radical self-care!

Traveling can cause my hip to tighten up again. Yet the YogaBody poses restore my yoga miracle. So I will continue online Ashram weekly classes with our swamis as well as online private yoga therapy.

By Agnes (Aikya) Hetherington

Driving along, I realized that an oblivious driver was pulling out into my path.

To avoid the collision, I stomped on the brake and wrenched the steering wheel sideways. The fright and violent movements put my SI joints into spasm. My sacrum caught fire.

A month later the pain had not abated, even with my regular home yoga practice. Exhausted by relentless pain, I said to my sister, “I just want to go back to normal, or is this my new normal?” What a depressing prospect!

So I decided to get help from the experts. Five Svaroopa^® Yoga Therapy sessions online with Swami Shrutananda brought temporary relief. Still, the activities of daily life continued to fire up the pain. Shrutananda observed that I was doing everything with my back muscles. I needed to strengthen my abdominals and legs to give my back a rest.

Evidently, my regular practice was no longer enough to combat the effects of time and gravity. At age 72, I had become weaker with every passing year, but without noticing.

Over the next three months, Shrutananda patiently guided me through a delicate balancing act. We worked simultaneously on strength building and pain management. This took us into April, and in May I put it to the test.

After my back seized up in December, I was dubious about attempting anything strenuous.  But my siblings and I had arranged our May hill-climbing vacation a year in advance. Shrutananda’s advice was to spend at least as much time doing yoga as I spent hiking.

So I  brought my yoga props along and continued with the therapeutic poses Shrutananda had taught me. On non-walking days I did lots of strength poses.

During one uphill walk, I realized I was flagging, leaning heavily on my walking poles. I told myself, “You’ve been working on strengthening your legs and abs. Use those muscles!” I straightened up and engaged my abs and hamstrings.

I picked up the poles and carried them. Instantly I felt better, more energized. I used this reminder multiple times during the trip.

Now back home, I continue with my twice-daily practice incorporating the therapeutic poses. The sacrum pain has dissolved and I have a spring in my step. Better yet, my new practices are also improving my mind and mood. Someone recently told me I was glowing.

This is my new normal! It’s even much better than the old version before the driving incident. I am deeply grateful for the gift of Svaroopa^® Yoga Therapy.