Yoga for Hips and Thighs By Arthur Kilmurray

THE NATURAL WORLD IS THE MATERNAL SOURCE OF OUR PEING AS EARTHLINGS, AND THE LIFE-GIVING NOURISHMENT OF OUR PHYSICAL, EMOnONAL, AESTHETIC, MORAL, AND RELIGIOUS EXISTENCE. THE NATURAL WORLD IS THE LARGER SACRED COMMUNITY TO WHICH WE BELONG. TO BE ALIENATED FROM THIS COMMUNITY IS TO BECOME DESTITUTE IN ALL THAT MAKES US HUMAN. TO DAMAGE THIS COMMUNITY IS TO DIMINISH OUR OWN EXISTENCE. --Thomas Berry, The Dream of the Earth

Humans are as much a part of the natural world as rocks, plants, and animals. Our bones, flesh, and skin--every cell and organ of our physical being--vibrates in resonance with the gravitational and electromagnetic frequencies of Mother Earth, the solar system, and the cosmos as a whole. The accumulated wisdom of our entire evolutionary journey is imprinted in the body's genetic code and preserved in the structures of the nervous system.

For millennia, humans had access to this innate body wisdom, which enabled them to live in a relatively harmonious relationship with nature. With the rise of modern civilization, however, and our increasing dependence on analytic thought, we have lost touch with the intuitive knowledge embodied in the cells and organs of our bodies. By re-awakening the intelligence of the body through Hatha Yoga, the old wisdom can be regained.

Hatha Yoga is an ancient spiritual path that arose from a state of communion with nature. Many of the yoga asanas are based on natural forms: mountains, trees, lakes, and animals such as frogs, dogs, birds, snakes, and insects. By practicing these asanas, we can learn much about the natural state of the human body. In this article we will explore the secrets of Frog Pose and its many variations.

What can a frog teach us? Frogs can squat in absolute stillness for long periods of time, yet spring instantaneously into action. In practical terms, frogs have quiet brains and deeply open groins. As we shall see, opening the groins is beneficial for humans as well: Not only does it improve the circulation of bodily fluids, it can also help us regain our natural sitting and standing posture. Because we spend so much time either sitting or standing, reawakening the body to the natural form of these basic positions can lead us to a continuous tangible communion with nature. Thus our amphibian friends can show us a path back to the sacred community of the natural world.

Next: Muscles and Bones

See also:
~ Structure of the Groins
~ Awakening the Intelligence of the Body
~ A Practice for Hips and Thighs