The Basics of Boats

One of my teachers has taken me all the way back to the beginning of Navasana, or Boat Pose. The journey back began on Sunday, and I really thought I might cry when she showed me a) how I have been doing Navasana incorrectly, and b) how it should be done, and c) what happens to the inner thighs when done correctly. I ended my practice that morning trying to bail out my ego, and keeping the boat partially afloat by my own humility.

The piece of Navasana that I wasn't digging into was Mula Bandha, keeping the knees together, keeping the back straight...in other words, not sinking the boat. I had grown accustomed to feeling the asana in the hip flexors, but never in the inner thigh. More specifically, I had not been finding much of an anchor at all with this boat.

Since then, in addition to the new ways in which my inner thighs have been voicing their voices in this practice, I can see a clearer way into most of the asanas: forward bends, Urdhva Mukha Pachimottasana, jump back from standing and seated, jump through, all head-knee-postures, pushing up to handstand... There is much strength to build, but I think this is what my other teacher talks about when he discusses the fire of Agni that can be fueled with breath, bandhas, and focus...we can direct the fire where it needs to ignite most powerfully.

I have a vision of my own body, and I see where the fire burns at the bottom-most region of the womb, where root and second chakras meet. I think I will spend some more time there.