Amidst the high-octane buzz of the metropolis of Abu Dhabi, the quest for silence seems almost like a luxury. The stress that one undergoes amid all the towering skyscrapers, glass, and city sounds is felt in the very physicality of the person’s existence—tight shoulders, fast breathing, and an ever-racing mind.
At Yoga Trainers Abu Dhabi, we see yoga as not just a physically challenging experience, but rather as a meditative journey. Though some practitioners embark on this journey in search of physical benefits such as flexibility or relief from lower back pain, what they eventually realize is that there is something more to this practice. A classic example is the Marjaryasana-Bitilasana movement, or better known as the cat-cow movement.
Deceptively easy as it may look, this movement acts as a spiritual connection between body and soul.
The Sacred Rhythm of Duality
In essence, the poses of Cat Pose and Cow Pose capture the duality of the world itself. While in the pose of Cat Pose, we arch our backs inwardly towards the floor, tucking our chins down to our chests and drawing our navels into our spines. When we enter into Cow Pose, we do the opposite by creating an arch in our backs with our buttocks pointing up to the sky.
Metaphorically, this is an indication of the flow of life.
- The Inward Pose (Cat Pose): This can be seen as introspection, protection and the “pralaya” stage of the universe. It is time to introspect, understand our shadows, and give ourselves some peace.
- The Outward Pose (Cow Pose): This can be seen as creation and “shrishti”. This is when we let out hearts go outwards into the world bravely.
Through learning to move from one position to another, we learn to balance our spiritual selves with the daily life experiences.
Awakening the Sushumna Nadi
In the tradition of Hatha Yoga, the spine is considered the “stairway to heaven” or the channel for the Sushumna Nadi—the central energy canal. This canal is the path through which Prana (life force) travels from the base of the spine to the crown of the head.
When you practice Cat-Cow at home, you aren’t just stretching your vertebrae; you are clearing the debris from this energetic highway. The rhythmic pulsing of the spine acts like a pump, waking up the nervous system and encouraging the stagnant energy at the base of the spine to rise. This is why many practitioners feel a sudden sense of “clarity” or “lightness” after just a few rounds. It is the spiritual equivalent of opening the windows to let a fresh breeze through a dusty room.
A Lesson in Emotional Release
The phrase, “the issues are in the tissues,” has been used on numerous occasions. The spine and the hips, for example, have the tendency to hold stress and grief, among other emotions.
“Marjaryasana-Bitilasana is an easy way of inviting your body to release all that your mind still clings to.”
In Marjaryasana, as we arch our backs, we give ourselves some privacy, which we need as much as anyone else. In Bitilasana, as we arch our back, we expose the most fragile part of ourselves—the throat and the chest. Through this physical act of exposure, we invite a spiritual act of “unburdening.” Our clients at Abu Dhabi seem to take to this practice very well when they leave their jobs behind them.
The Power of the Breath
It should be noted that the most important part of the asanas of the Cat-Cow exercise is not the exercise itself, but the harmonious connection between breath and motion.
- On inhalation – the pose of the cow,
- On exhalation – the pose of the cat.
In Sanskrit, the term Atman is used for the breath, and very often it is related to the concept of the soul. Thus, by combining movement and breathing, one unites the material plane of existence with the spiritual plane, achieving the effect of Vinyasa – “special arrangement”.
Breathing control in this case makes a person free from his ego. He stops “practicing yoga” and starts “being yoga”. This allows him to get into a special state of presence and feel a certain spiritual sanctuary within himself, despite the noise around.
Practicing with Intention at Home
If you are practicing on your own, maybe following a personal instructor for yoga classes Abu Dhabi-based, try and move your mind off the question “How do I look?” to “How do I feel?”
- Set an Altar of Intention: Begin your practice by giving it some purpose – like kindness, happiness, strength, etc.
- Close Your Eyes: By doing this, you take away all the distractions of sight and can sense the movement of your spine within.
- Hear the Sound of Your Breath: Breathe into it and make it your mantra.
The spiritual beauty of Marjaryasana-Bitilasana resides in its inclusivity. You do not have to be a yoga master to feel the elegance of it. From a secluded villa in Saadiyat to a house in the heart of the city, the simplicity of the movement allows one to come back to oneself.
Honing the spine means respecting the spine because it is our spine that forms our very essence. Honing the breathing means respecting the breathing because it is our breathing that sustains our very spark of life. Join Yoga Trainers Abu Dhabi to discover how the rhythm of the Cat-Cow brings us back to who we truly are.
