Yog Shunyata

Have you ever felt stuck in your practice? Like your body hit a wall, no matter how hard you pushed?

In yoga, we learn that physical straining can only take us so far. Mastering forward folds isn't just about forcing flexible hamstrings—it’s an internal marination process.

Think of forward bends as building your architectural foundation. They teach the nervous system how to anchor, soften, and ground. Without this quiet, introspective foundation, your spine won't have the structural safety or trust it needs to confidently open up into deep backbends later on.

If you want your yoga journey to be smoother, stop fighting the pose.

Move inward. Move forward. Only then can you safely bend backwards.

👉 Save this post to remind yourself to slow down and marinate in your foundation during your next practice.

On this auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri, my morning was filled with the powerful stories of Shiva and Shakti. One that stayed with me was the origin of Virabhadrasana (Warrior Pose).
​Born from Shiva’s matted locks in a moment of profound grief and provocation, the fierce warrior Virabhadra was created to avenge Sati after she sacrificed her physical body in the Yog Agni. He represents the strength and intensity born from the deepest devotion.

​To me, practicing this asana is a tribute to that strength—the ability to stand firm even amidst chaos. My practice is still a work in progress, but the journey is where the growth happens.
​Swipe to see B.K.S. Iyengar’s legendary ex*****on of the same pose.
​Mahashivratri ki shubhkamnaye!
Om Namah Shivaya! 🔱

Rope sirsasana is part of yog kurunta- a method where asanas are performed with the help of wall mounted ropes.
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A few years back during a yoga workshop the teacher showed us these images of ancient yogis practicing sirsasana or tapakara pose (as mentioned in the book Roots of Yoga by James Mallinson and Mark Singleton). Since then I have been trying to locate the original books in which these were printed and have not been successful so far. I know that the second image was originally in the book Asana and Mudra written in( around) 19th century.
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The teacher at the workshop told us how yogis have been practicing these so called 'variations' for centuries which now have taken a different look. Many thanks goes to legendary practitioner and teacher B.K.S Iyengar for bringing this ancient knowledge to the common practice by introducing wall ropes.
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What are the benefits, you ask? Try it out to experience them.
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Keep practicing 🤸🏼‍♀️

"Action is movement with intelligence. The world is filled with movement. What the world needs is more conscious action": BKS Iyengar
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A few weeks of practice for some and a few days of practice for some- awareness of the body is coming in. It's not about creating the ability it's about realising the ability of the body. Just standing up tall and right happens with awareness. How much trouble WE create for ourselves by our bad-posture. Can we not avoid that?

The after pictures here are not perfect but they are a step towards improvement.

Keep practicing 🤸🏼‍♀️

In the Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamaha lay mortally wounded on a bed of arrows (Shara Shayya). With the boon of Ichhamrityu (self-willed death), he chose to transcend his physical suffering, waiting for the auspicious Uttarayana to impart the Vishnu Sahasranama and find salvation.

This legendary resilience is captured in Bhishmasana. A powerful heart-opener and stress-reliever, this asana symbolizes finding a state of rest and contemplation even amidst life’s "arrows."

Interestingly, you won’t find this pose in any ancient/traditional textbook. It was developed by B.K.S. Iyengar, translating ancient wisdom into a therapeutic physical practice.

Because of its precision and depth, this asana can only be truly learned through a teacher. I am deeply grateful to mine for guiding me through this rare practice and teaching me the art of stillness. 🙏

GuruShishya HeartOpening AncientWisdom YogaJourney