Sivananda

Using Passport to Prana, I'm trying different studios around town, and different styles of yoga. Yesterday I visited Rainbow Body and took a Sivananda class in the Tibetan yoga tradition.

We started with some pranayama, and then moved into sun salutations to warm up our bodies before doing 12 basic postures. The sequence began with headstand and ended with triangle, almost the exact opposite of what I'm used to.

I left feeling euphoric, happy to watch the big snowflakes falling from the sky.

Although there are many Asanas (8,400,000 according to yogic scriptures) the practice of the 12 basic postures provides the essence and all major benefits of this system.

These 12 Basic Postures are:
Headstand (Sirshasana)
Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana)
Plough (Halasana)
Fish (Matsyasana)
Forward bend (Paschimothanasana)
Cobra (Bhujangasana)
Locust (Shalabhasana)
Bow (Dhanurasana)
Spinal twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana)
Crow pose (Kakasana) or Peacock pose (Mayurasana)
Standing forward bend (Pada Hasthasana)
Triangle (Trikonasana)