| Following its literal meaning, Anusara (flowing with | | | | and thought is sharpened. |
| grace) yoga sets to celebrate the heart by exploring | | | | Muscular Energy |
| intrinsic goodness in mankind. It believes that there is no | | | | Energy from every part of the body is steered to the |
| built-in or inherent evil in the universe; in fact the Tantric | | | | mainstream or the pivot called the body's Focal Point. |
| philosophy has faith in fundamental goodness prevalent | | | | The aim of the asana practice is to increase strength, |
| in this universe. Founded in 1997 by John Friend, | | | | vigor, steadiness and physical incorporation in the pose. |
| Anusara yoga is a school of Hatha yoga which entails | | | | These qualities serve the practitioners in their daily lives |
| Universal Principles of Alignment. According to this | | | | too; they are able to deal with day to day life with the |
| viewpoint, the Divine or the Supreme Consciousness is | | | | same stability and concentration with which they |
| the all pervasive force in the universe and in order to | | | | practice their yoga asanas. |
| be in complete harmony with the Divine itself, one has | | | | Inner Spiral |
| to liberate the mind and the spirit and develop an | | | | Spiral energy is expanded through asana practice. The |
| understanding of the beauty, love and light and to | | | | spiral energy runs through the pelvis into the waistline. |
| enhance goodness around. | | | | Outer Spiral |
| Alignment seeks for a mental state where one is | | | | This is a contracting or toning energy spiral. In the legs |
| aware of one's various parts of the body to be | | | | it runs from the waistline area down through the |
| integrated, interconnected and enjoying a harmonious | | | | tailbone and out through the legs and feet. |
| existence. To obtain this state of high equilibrium, | | | | Organic Energy |
| Universal Principles of Alignment are at work. | | | | From its Focal point the energy is steered through the |
| Opening to Grace | | | | main lines of the body and extended outwards to the |
| To do so one has to allow the flow of Supreme | | | | side-lines. This allows expansion, suppleness and liberty |
| Consciousness and be in total alignment with it. One | | | | in the posture. |
| devotes one's self to it with a gentle heart along with | | | | With enhanced inner and outer spiral energy, and |
| liberality and open-mindedness. An asana practice that | | | | surmounts of organic energy the Anusara yoga |
| is conducted with this positive attitude is definite to | | | | practitioners lead a more intense and passionate life. |
| produce the desired results, that is, complete alignment | | | | They experience an urge to be passionate participants |
| with the Supreme Consciousness or awareness of | | | | in life rather than being mere spectators. They are |
| equilibrium in one's being. When one opens to Grace, | | | | considerate and nice to all those around them. Their |
| one becomes conscious of one's physical and spiritual | | | | vigor and agility to do well and breed goodness is |
| enlightenment; every sensation, perception, emotion | | | | boundless. |