Madras yoga: the correct application of yoga

The origin of Madras yoga

Madras yoga is an evolution of traditional yoga. Despite its less popularity compared to its colleagues Vinyasa yoga or Ashtanga yoga, Madras yoga is just as important. So, discover its benefits and fundamental principles for a 360° yoga culture!

Roots

The story of Madras Yoga comes to life in the birthplace of yoga, India. To understand its birth, we must return to traditional yoga when performing the ancient Indian writings. In particular, the Veda texts, the Upanishads and the yoga sutra of Patanjali. Madras yoga is part of chapter 3 of Patanjali's yoga sutras. Thanks to them, the different directions of yoga were able to see the light of day. Namely, the devotion, selfless action, knowledge and control of the mind. For centuries, traditional yoga emphasized the meditation, mental openness and the search for spirituality. 

The emergence of Madras yoga

The rise of Madras yoga can be attributed to a group of practitioners and masters such as T. Krishnamacharya who is considered the father of yoga during the last century and continued in his lineage with his son TKV Desikachar. But it was in the 4th century that madras yoga was revealed by the yogi Nathamuni then written by Krishnamacharya in a treatise entitled yoga rahasya. Then, he taught the practice to Westerners like the master Gérard Blitz. The activity was adapted to the needs and realities of life in the West. 

The concepts that govern Madras yoga

If Madras yoga has been able to be adaptable and meet the modern demands of life, it is because it is based on various principles which guide practitioners in their practice. Here are the elements which constitute the harmonization of this discipline.

Adaptability 

Madras yoga highlights the principle ofadaptability. Indeed, he advocates the adaptability of his techniques and yoga sequences according to the needs of everyone. He refuses to fit into a rigid pattern with standardized practices. Based on this observation, adaptability allows you to have a personalized space for practice based on physical abilities, well-being objectives and personal challenges.  

Body awareness

There body awareness is an essential factor of discipline. To begin with, this component requires a mindfulness and presence in order to feel every sensation, movement and posture. Madras yoga is based on the principle that it is less interesting to perform postures without intention. This is why practitioners are invited to question the stretching, muscular contractions and breathing carried out. Thus, yogis cultivate a deep understanding of their being. 

Integrate the emotional aspect

Madras yoga invites the side emotional to participate in the practice to allow practitioners toexplore their emotions, of the to understand and to control. In this sense, Madras yoga recognizes that the body and thespirit are intimately related and that emotions have a real impact on the physical and mental health. Thus, rather than putting emotions aside, the Madras yoga approach invites practitioners to explore and to recognize their feelings during the session. Finally, by extension, the practice encourages the development of skills to manage harmful emotions for mental and emotional balance.  

Follow the philosophy on a daily basis

To be in tune with Madras yoga, it is best to integrate the yoga philosophy into your daily life. That is to say, living the teachings of yoga in all facets of existence. From then on, yoga becomes much more than a session on a mat, but a way of life. Moreover, the values to have are Nonviolence, there compassion, there truth et equanimity. 

Mental flexibility

Well beyond physical postures, Madras yoga invites yogis to cultivate an attitude of open-mindedness, adaptability and resilience in the face of life's obstacles. Flexibility mental reflects the notion that life is constantly changing and that it is necessary to acquire a flexible attitude to navigate the ups and downs. It manifests itself in thoughtful letting go, new perspectives and ease in managing stress.  

The postures 

Postures are one of the essential components of yoga. Furthermore, the Madras yoga approach is not trivial since the asanas take on a deep meaning. Indeed, it is not simply an asana exploration, it is also a search for body awareness. 

Mountain posture 

The mountain pose embodies the strength, there stability et the balance. 

To perform it, stand with your feet together at hip level while correctly distributing your weight on your feet. Next, imagine a wire connected to the sky by an invisible thread in order to slightly stretch your spine. After that, lightly contract your thigh muscles and engage your abdominal muscles by pulling in your stomach. Then, keep your arms at your sides with your palms facing forward. Imagine that energy is flowing through you from your feet to your head to help you maintain balance and centering. Finally, take a deep breath in and out, focusing on your slow, steady breathing and relax. 

Child's pose 

Child's pose offers a deep feeling of comfort, of calm and of interior connection. This position invites you to withdraw into yourself, to let go and find serenity of mind. 

First, kneel down and have your toes touch your knees. From this position, you can bend your upper body forward, so that your chest touches your thighs and your forehead is against the floor. You have the choice of extending your arms in front of you or bringing them back alongside your body. Next, focus on your breathing, releasing any tension with slow, steady breathing. Finally, let your thoughts flow in and out of your head while focusing on feeling relaxed. 

The posture of the foot on the ground

In another register, the posture of the foot on the ground allows you to connect to earth, ofimprove your flexibility and of finding a balance between elevation and anchoring. 

Start with your feet together with your arms relaxed at your sides. Continue by slowly bending your hips, keeping your legs engaged. Next, slide your hands down your legs, bringing them closer to your feet. During this slide, you should feel a pleasant stretch in your hamstrings and lower back. Then take a deep breath as you lean forward. Release the pressure in your jaw, shoulders and neck. Finally, feel the sensation of grounding through your feet. 

Course of a session 

In the Madras yoga tradition, each class is designed to create a balance between strength, flexibility, concentration, relaxation, rooting et elevation, here is how it is done. 

The lesson

A Madras yoga class usually begins with a centering moment. You should sit cross-legged with your eyes closed, focusing on your breathing. After which, the session begins with a gentle warm-up series aiming to delicately awaken your body. For example, shoulder rotations, arm stretches and gentle bends to warm up the muscles and joints. Then, you continue with a series of dynamic asanas. The session continues with a series of static postures. That is, the positions are held for a few breaths. After that, you perform stretching to promote flexibility in your body. Continue with pranayamas which are conscious breathing techniques to prepare your mind for meditation. The session reaches its climax with the meditation and the relaxation. Finally, the course ends with a few moments of gratitude. 

The benefits

Madras yoga has a holistic approach that combines physical, mental and spirituality. From this formula comes a range of benefits deep such as: 

• Strengthens flexibility

• Reduced stress and anxiety

• Sharpened body awareness

• Improved immune system

• Better concentration

• Brings emotional balance

• Nourishes spiritual awareness

What you need to know about yin yoga

Madras yoga is part of chapter 3 of Patanjali's texts emphasizing the meditation, mental openness and the quest for spirituality. It is also a variation of hatha yoga and ashtanga yoga. Then, it was a great master of yoga who developed this form, Krishnamacharya. 

But Madras yoga is managed by several principles : 

• Adaptability

• Body awareness

• The importance of the emotional aspect 

• Integrate yoga philosophy into your daily life

• Mental flexibility 

Then we saw some postures present in Madras yoga: 

• Mountain posture

• Child's pose

• The posture of the foot on the ground

Procedure and benefits

If you are planning to attend a Madras yoga session, here is what you should expect regarding the unfolding : 

• Centering moment

• Gentle warm-up series

• Series of dynamic postures

• Series of static positions

• Stretching

• Pranayamas

• Meditation and relaxation

• Moments of gratitude

Finally, this discipline reserves some virtues : 

• Strengthens flexibility

• Reduced stress and anxiety

• Sharpened body awareness

• Improved immune system

• Better concentration

• Brings emotional balance

• Nourishes spiritual awareness

Get in tune with yoga at POSES

Do you want to be coordinated at 100% at yoga? POSES invites you to sit on our mats for a perfect connection. 

What awaits you in our courses? Of the 50 minute sessions where you run postures, transitions et movements memorable yoga to exclusive playlists in a welcoming studio decorated with soft lighting. And if you think you've made a wrong move, don't worry, our coaches, happy to share their knowledge with you, are here to help you. 

If you're excited about the idea of increasing your spiritual awareness, here it is!