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Photography by Lewis Metts
“Yield and overcome;
Bend and be straight;”
—From The Tao Te Ching – Ch. 22
There is no better yoga posture to physically illuminate the thought in the couplet quoted above than Triangle Pose. Triangle is an intermediate pose that is often rushed into by beginning and advanced students alike. This pose is about alignment and balance. The torso, hips and legs must all be on the same plane to achieve proper balance. However, many are determined to extend the hand all the way to the ankle on first try instead of letting the hand rest on the calf (of higher). When the pose is fully extended before the body is ready, the alignment is lost, and the balance of the pose is lost. Think of yoga poses in relation to a wall. Your body will not go through a wall no matter how hard you push. Nor will your body correctly go into a pose that it is not ready for, both physically and mentally. To correctly do Triangle Pose, you must yield to overcome and bend to be straight. When this pose is forced the pose is lost, the connection of mind, body and spirit is lost and the risk of injury is greatly heightened.
Move into Triangle Pose from Mountain Pose, solidly grounding the feet and connecting with the earth. Create a star shape with the body by extending the arms to the side, palms down, at shoulder level as the legs are spread apart. With the arms still parallel to the floor, move the right foot to a 90 degree angle, allow the hip to hinge inward and stretch the torso to the right. Lower the right hand to the right thigh, knee, ankle or floor. (A block may be utilized here.) Yield to the movement; only go as far as your body is ready. Do not push or force. Raise the left arm up, palm facing inward. By pressing the shoulder blades down, allow the chest to open. Turn your head to look up toward your extended hand. Breathe deeply. (Repeat both sides.)
Yield and overcome. Bend and be straight. Contradictory actions that perfectly complement each other when used in conjunction with spiritual wisdom and inner guidance. It is easy, and often the first choice of action, to push against something we do not want or like. But this pushback is actually a very harsh inaction, for when we push so hard against the thing we see as opposition, we exert so much of our energy and power. And the obstacle remains. Yet, if we will yield, accept what we see as opposition or obstacle as it is, then we can overcome it. One will never overcome something by pushing against it. When we fight what is, we may as well be pushing against a solid wall with all our might. The more we struggle and push, the more the wall stands still. The more we push and force our bodies into a pose, the more we lose of the pose and ourselves. Yield and overcome. Bend and be straight.
M/Gatlianne is an Author, Yoga Instructor, Interfaith Minister and Holistic Health & Reiki Practitioner based in Athens, AL. For more information, contact her at M@Gatlianne.com or visit Gatlianne.com, DeepRiversHealing.com, or DiscoverPath.com.
