CHATURANGA: MORE THAN JUST A TRANSITION  Chaturanga Dandasana is one of the most frequently practiced—and often most frequently compromised—poses in a yoga practice. It can look like a simple movement between Plank and Upward-Facing Dog, but its importance goes far beyond being a transition. Chaturanga teaches us how to create strength, stability, control, and awareness throughout the entire body.
When practiced with intention, Chaturanga becomes a foundation for many other poses. It develops the strength and body awareness needed for arm balances, inversions, transitions, and other weight-bearing postures. It teaches the shoulders how to stabilize, the core how to support the spine, and the legs how to participate in what can otherwise become an upper-body movement. The ability to move through Chaturanga with control can ultimately influence how safely and confidently we approach more challenging poses. But there is another, equally important lesson in Chaturanga: knowing when to modify or stop. Because Chaturanga is repeated so often in many yoga classes, small misalignments can become big patterns. If the shoulders repeatedly drop below the elbows, the elbows flare, the chest collapses, the lower back sinks, or the body loses its integrated support, we may be rehearsing a movement pattern that places unnecessary stress on the shoulders, wrists, elbows, or spine. The problem isn't that someone "can't do" Chaturanga. The problem is practicing a version of Chaturanga that the body cannot currently support—and repeating it again and again. A strong yoga practice isn't about forcing the body into the shape. It is about developing the strength and awareness to create the shape responsibly. Sometimes that means lowering only partway. Sometimes it means dropping the knees, skipping Chaturanga altogether, or practicing a different transition. These aren't lesser versions of the practice. They can actually be the more intelligent choice. The goal is not to perform hundreds of Chaturangas. The goal is to build a Chaturanga that is strong, sustainable, and supported. Every repetition is an opportunity to ask: Can I maintain the integrity of this movement? Can I breathe? Can I control the descent? Am I creating strength—or simply getting through the pose? Yoga gives us countless opportunities to practice this kind of awareness. Chaturanga is one of them. When we respect our body's current capacity and practice from a place of control rather than momentum, we aren't just preparing for the next pose. We are building the foundation that allows us to practice for years to come. HOT VINYASA IN L.I.C. QUEENS "Something new is taking shape in Long Island City. Quietly, intentionally, and with purpose. It’s not a gym, not a clinic, and not a spa, but something that lives in between. A space designed for real healing, where modern science meets deeper, timeless practices. Thoughtfully built for how we actually live, move, and recover. We’re not saying much yet, but it’s coming soon." -- From Healspace's website. THE SCHEDULE? Every Monday night: 5:00 pm hot dynamic flow and 6:30 pm hot dynamic flow. Location? 5-21 47th road. Long Island City's new sanctuary for goodness, wellness and community. See you soon, friends! Please follow them on Instagram here! A PEEK INTO MENTORSHIP WITH VICYASA™... Many prospective teachers, graduates of teacher training(s) and a handful of you that have a desire just to dive deeper into the many aspects of a yoga practice and teaching yoga regularly have been greatly impacted by our bespoke mentoring program. Mentorship sessions can include sharing the exact experience lived, the practical wisdom I and other teachers have gained from our journey in their domain. We are highly skilled at directing strategies and processes that can sometimes transfer across different contexts. Yoga is a journey as much as a practice. In fact, it's a journey that should never end. Those of us on that journey should be open to learning new things. We should be open to new experiences. That is what mentorship offers. It's an opportunity for a more experienced yoga teacher to share their experiences with you. We are ready to work with anyone on a 1:1 basis or mini-group. There will be suggestions for your practice/teachings, you get a catered-to-you manual with loads of vital information and you can take notes and record your questions or concerns. I will curate a personalized practice for you, based on your interest, needs, questions and situation. You then take this practice into your own life. What you discover, feel, experience, or learn via the lens of our personal practice will then create the context for potential offerings or paths you take whether in your personal or business life. The practices may be adapted, changed, modified, or added to. This relationship is important for professional yoga teachers. It’s important because as we dive into the industry we often muddy the waters between ‘teaching’ and ‘personal path.' Furthermore the environment of the yoga industry can be difficult to navigate. No one should try to do it on their own. What if you're not a teacher and would like to prepare for training or enhance your ever-hungry-desire to absorb all things yoga? Holla' at me. Feel like your 200 hour training ended with you needing more questions answered? Want to expand on those teachings? Do you feel like there are areas of your teaching repertoire that need enhancing? Contact me for more info and enrollment. PRIVATES: ONE-TO-ONE WORK! If you want to set up any private sessions or events, please contact me through email. You can learn more about privates: CLICK HERE! SINGLE CLASSES We've added single class purchases to our on-demand offerings. How does it work? A $17 payment will give you access to a single pre-recorded class with Victor or anyone on his staff. The private link with a unique access code will give you entry to that class, which you can load anytime you want. You'll have 24-hours of unlimited access to that class. No refunds, returns and you must use that class within 24-hours of receiving it before it expires. You can request a teacher on our on-demand options... featuring Demetra Kentrotas (@d_meetch), Leanne McDermott (@leannerays), Elinor Cohen (@elinorraerigby) and others. REGULAR RATES:
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Alignment Is an Invitation: Finding Strength, Safety, and Freedom in Your Yoga Practice  Your yoga practice isn’t about forcing your body into a shape. It’s about learning how to move with awareness, strength, stability, and respect for the body you have today.
In yoga, we often hear the word alignment. It can sometimes sound like there is one “perfect” way to position the body in every pose. But true alignment is much more personal and dynamic than that. Alignment is about creating a relationship between your body, your breath, your intention, and the shape you are exploring. And sometimes, the most aligned choice you can make is to modify. Alignment Is Not About Looking Perfect Every body is different. Our bone structure, proportions, mobility, strength, previous movement experiences, and even how we feel from day to day all influence the way a pose looks and feels. That means your Warrior II will not necessarily look like your neighbor’s Warrior II. Your forward fold may look completely different from someone else’s. And that is not a problem to be fixed—it is simply the reality of practicing in a human body. Rather than asking, “Does my pose look right?” consider asking: “Does this position allow me to breathe, feel stable, and work with intention?” That shift in perspective can transform your practice. Props Are Tools, Not Signs of Weakness Blocks, straps, blankets, bolsters, and other props are some of the most valuable tools we have in yoga. A block can bring the floor closer to you, allowing you to maintain a longer spine rather than rounding or collapsing simply to reach the ground. A strap can give you additional length and connection when your hands don't quite meet. A blanket can provide support and cushioning. A bolster can help you settle into a restorative shape without asking your body to work harder than necessary. Using a prop doesn't mean you aren't strong enough to do the pose. It means you are intelligent enough to meet your body where it is. In fact, props can help us develop strength and awareness by allowing us to experience the intention of a posture without forcing ourselves into its deepest expression. Modification Is Part of Progress There is sometimes an assumption that modifying a pose means taking the “easy way out.” But modification is not the opposite of progress. Modification is progress when it helps you practice consistently, safely, and with greater awareness. Perhaps your knee doesn't feel good in a particular variation. Maybe your shoulders need a different position. Perhaps your hips are tight today, or you're tired from a long week. Maybe the traditional version of a pose simply isn't the best expression for your body. You have choices. You can widen your stance. Bend your knees. Lower your arms. Use a block. Shorten your range of motion. Change the position of your feet. Come out of the pose sooner. Or choose an entirely different variation. These choices don't take away from your practice. They are your practice. Strength Doesn't Always Mean Going Deeper One of the most important lessons yoga can teach us is that intensity and depth are not the same thing. Going deeper into a pose is not automatically more advanced. Sometimes strength means staying. Sometimes strength means backing off. Sometimes strength means holding a position with steady breath rather than pushing toward a larger range of motion. And sometimes the strongest choice is recognizing that your body needs something different today. A sustainable practice is not built by repeatedly overriding the body's signals. It is built by developing the ability to listen, respond, and adapt. Alignment Helps Us Build a Sustainable Practice When we practice with thoughtful alignment, we create an opportunity to develop strength and stability in a way that supports our long-term practice. This doesn't mean that yoga should become rigid or fearful. Quite the opposite. Good alignment gives us a foundation from which we can explore. It helps us become more aware of where we are placing our weight, how we are organizing our joints, where we are creating stability, and how we are using our muscles. Over time, that awareness becomes more than something we experience on the mat. It can influence the way we stand, walk, lift, sit, and move through everyday life. There Is More Than One Expression of a Pose Think of an asana as having a purpose rather than a single appearance. There may be several ways to create the same fundamental action. You might practice a standing pose with a narrower or wider stance. You might bring your hands to blocks rather than the floor. You might keep your knees bent in a forward fold. You might practice a modified version of an inversion. You might choose child's pose instead of another posture altogether. Each variation offers something different. The goal isn't to collect the most difficult poses. The goal is to develop a relationship with your practice that is strong enough to evolve with you. Practice With Curiosity, Not Judgment The next time you step onto your mat, notice what happens when you remove the pressure to make every pose look a certain way. Try a block. Reach for a strap. Bend your knees. Take a wider stance. Choose a different variation. Rest. Then notice. How does your breath change? Where do you feel effort? Where do you feel stability? Can you create more space? Can you soften without collapsing? Can you work without forcing? These questions are yoga. Your Practice Is Yours There is no prize for making a pose look the deepest, most dramatic, or most advanced. The real achievement is developing the awareness to know what your body needs—and the courage to honor it. Alignment is not about fitting your body into a pose. It's about finding the version of the pose that allows your body to participate fully, safely, and intelligently. Props are not a crutch. Modifications are not failures. Rest is not weakness. And changing your practice is not giving up. These are all ways of practicing with wisdom. So the next time you reach for a block or strap, or choose a different variation of a familiar asana, remember: You aren't doing less yoga. You are practicing more consciously. And that awareness is one of the most powerful ways to grow—stronger, healthier, and more connected to your practice, one breath at a time. NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ It is while practicing yoga asanas that you learn the art of adjustment.  When do I use a Yoga block?
First of all… I pick-up a block or two before the start of every class and sit them next to my mat. That's just protocol with me. I've always felt that the use of a block or any other prop only enhances your asana practice. The use of props have nothing to do with how much experience you have, nor does it minimize your asana practice. On the contrary, it shows mindfulness and a willingness to cultivate awareness. For newer students, a block or two can make what appears a daunting pose an accessible one. It provides comfort, enhances alignment and support, while giving you a sense of adaptability in your own life. Some poses I love using blocks in:
What are some other ways you use a yoga block? I'll post more ways to use props during your asana practice in upcoming posts. Until then, see you on the mat. -Vic |
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