This Assisted Asana is so wonderful that I can barely wait to compose this essay about it! Where has...
This Assisted Asana is so wonderful that I can barely wait to compose this essay about it! Where has this Asana been all my life! With The Ankle Eversion Asana [A.E.A] we are now talking the beautiful and the exotic! The A.E.A. is kid’s stuff to apply and The A.E.A. offering is a welcomed relief for all of us because it is complimentary to our posture. Ordinarily we would not be experiencing this extreme stretch in our usual walking or standing. The A.E.A.’s naturalness is a delight to experience.
In addressing the ankles and medial lower legs, there is no more simple, elegant and effective stretch release to be found anywhere.
In the Yogic tradition, the ankles represent responsibility. Along with the legs, the ankles also represent constitution, determination, reliability and permanence. The ankles are an integral construct of the ‘columns/pillars’ that form our poise, attitude and mobility.
Isn’t it miraculous and quite curious that the farther we get away from the main ‘trunk’ of the body, the smaller the bio-assemblies, such as the muscles, become AND THE MORE WORK THEY DO!
When a baby stands up for the first time it truly is a miracle of anatomical engineering and spiritual fortitude.
Let’s celebrate right this moment!
The Ankle Eversion Asana targets the anatomy, the articulations and fascia occurring at the base of the tibia and fibula as these bones communicate with the calcaneous , the talus and other bones of the foot.
There are also a number of muscles and nerves benefiting along with several marmani [plural for marma] being accessed too.
The marmani which receive vital access would include of course The Gulpha Marma [the ankle assembly], The Kshipra Marmani [the webs], the Pada Marma [center ankle between the fibula and tibia], the Parshni [posterior base of heel] and The Talahridaya Marma [central base]. Also, located on the legs would be the Charana Marmani [medial and lateral knee assemblies] and the Indrabasta [calf center].
Three major nadis or channels are positively addressed also. They are the Spleen, the Liver and the Kidney nadis. These channels receive a clearing and an activation energythus enabling them to function better. [There are only two points on the medial legs where all three of these meridians converge. One point is the spleen #6 which is three finger widths above the medial maleolus or ankle protuberance. The other point is at the groin area just below the inguinal crease and is named the Lokitaksha Marma.]
We want to use the Ankle Eversion Asana to increase the ankle’s R.O.M. and to remove sluggish circulation by oxygenating the blood. The A.E.A also breaks up sticky fascia, cleanses the area with fresh synovial fluids and flushes away metabolic crystalizations.
Don’t allow the ankles or any area for that matter to go unattended to.
Flexible ankles and decongested lower legs inspires us to jump and dance! And maybe even to fly!
To add style to the procedure, we can initially add a caressing cross fiber foot massage to the transverse arch and heel. This foot massage can include also percussing the heel in a circular pattern too. Alternating repeatedly between a gentle application and a strong application will further the overall emotional and physical captivation of the A.E.A experience.
Technique:
After ‘creasing’ the receiver’s leg at the knee, we want to come into a Diamond Vajra Asana kneeling posture positioning our inside knee quite close to the Guda Marma [the private area] of the receiver. Facing directly forward, this Wide Diamond positioning is essential to procure the elimination of any undesirable and uncomfortable angles on the receiver’s active knee. Again, remember to be in a ‘wide’ Diamond position so that our ‘outside’ knee is out of the trajectory of the application and will not inhibit the stretch potential of the receiver.
We want to ‘cradle’ the receiver’s active ankle at the ‘nape’ of our thigh with the receiver’s active foot ‘draped’ and ‘free’ to compress downwards repeatedly upon the medial ‘big’ toe. Stabilizing the receiver’s ‘outside’ knee with our outside hand will provide additional comfort and confidence as the procedure progresses.
The A.E.A is a therapeutic celebrity. Expect tears of joy from the receiver [and maybe you!] as you offer this most excellent of Assisted Asanas.
Hum a mantra and have fun as you ‘listen for the echo!’
Now repeat the entire enchanting sequence treatment to the other ankle!