| Anusara was founded by John Friend who started | | | | heart. |
| practicing yoga at the age of 13. His passion made him | | | | ALIGNMENT |
| travel to India and spend time with a number of yoga | | | | Alignment in Anusara Yoga pertains to the tantric |
| masters in order to gain better knowledge of the art. | | | | concept of power of awareness. John Friend teaches |
| John had the opportunity to learn from the guru's of | | | | his students to not online align the different body parts |
| yoga including Pattabhi Jois, B.K.S. Iyengar, Richard | | | | like the muscles and organs, but also to align the inner |
| Freeman and Angela Farmer to name a few. After | | | | soul. |
| attaining a thorough learning of techniques and | | | | The basic principles of alignment that work in the |
| postures, he created Anusara in 1997. Anusara is a | | | | Anusara can be broken down as follows: |
| potent combination of the Hatha Yoga practice mixed | | | | - Opening with a Grace: Anusara sessions are always |
| with the Tantric beliefs that symbolize a celebration of | | | | started with a prayer or grace, which creates devotion |
| the heart. | | | | towards the asana and a more focused heart and |
| John Friend's main objective for developing the | | | | mind that enables the students to concentrate |
| Anusara was for his students to enjoy their practice | | | | completely on the workout that follows. |
| and life as a whole, fully from the heart. That is why | | | | - The Muscular Energy: All the body's alignment is |
| Anusara tends to have a playful routine along with | | | | centered towards a focal point in order to attain better |
| focusing on discipline. This form of yoga encourages | | | | stability and strength. The focal point is utilized to draw |
| its students to lighten up during each session allowing | | | | the energy for better integration of the poses. |
| them to experience inner happiness and loving | | | | - The Inner Spiral: This creates an energy spiral that |
| expressions. | | | | expands throughout the body. It starts from the feet |
| Anusara is broken down into the 3 A's, the Attitude, | | | | up and travels through the legs into the pelvic area and |
| The Alignment and The Action of every pose during | | | | reaches the waist. |
| the session. | | | | - The Outer Spiral: This creates an energy spiral that |
| ATTITUDE | | | | contracts through the body. As opposed to the inner |
| When John Friend introduced the Anusara Yoga, he | | | | spiral, the outer spiral starts at the waistline and moves |
| placed innumerable amount of importance on the | | | | to the tailbone and into the legs to the feet. |
| attitude. According to John, attitude is the power of the | | | | - The Organic Energy: This energy is the opposite of |
| heart as a force behind every expression in a posture. | | | | the Muscular energy. It starts at the focal point and |
| This attitude works as a reawakening of the soul to | | | | extends outwards to all the limbs resulting in increased |
| celebrate life to the maximum and brings love to the | | | | flexibility and freedom to attain any posture. |