How can we find Softness and Strength?

It was many years ago that I heard a teacher say during a yoga class to find strength and softness in the pose. I can’t remember the teacher or even where I was at the time. But that thought resonated with me. And I have continued applying it in my practice since then.

I personally believe finding a strength and a softness in each asana is key, it is when the magic happens. You’re in the pose, you’re putting in effort, but then you are also able to soften into it. 

I wanted to share my ramblings on this subject, as it applies not just on the mat, but also off the mat. And partly to help me get my head around this concept, which I often find hard to explain!!

Let’s take an example of Vrksasana, Tree Pose. 

Starting from how we move into Vrksasana. 

From Tadasana, Mountain Pose, where we ground our feet into the earth, and lift up through the crown of the head, standing tall and strong. There is a natural strength in the body as we stand tall. 

Hands to heart centre, palms together, pushing the palms into one another, activating the muscles in the arms and shoulders.

We drop our weight into one leg and lift the other leg, bending the knee, maybe the knee comes to hip height. We flex the lifted foot, which activates the muscles in the lifted leg. Taking that leg out to the side and bringing the sole of the foot onto the inside of the standing leg. Push that foot into the leg and leg into the foot, to further activate the muscles in both legs. 

Keep lifting the crown of the head to the ceiling, standing tall and strong through the torso.

We’ve arrived in Vrksasana. 

There’s strength in the torso as we lift the crown of the head and stand tall. There’s strength in the arms as we engage the palms together. There’s strength in the lifted leg as that foot pushes into the standing leg. And there’s strength in the standing leg as it takes our weight. 

The whole body is working to help us balance. 

As a teacher I can see when someone comes into Vrksasana with this strength, this activation, their whole body is supporting the posture. And sometimes I see someone who comes into it a bit floppy, their focus on their standing foot, that foot is working so hard, really hard, as that foot is trying to support the whole posture on it’s own. We need to activate throughout the body in every pose to support the body, and also to get the most out of it. 

There is real power and strength when the whole body is active in Vrksasana, and any posture. 

Now let’s look for the softness.

The standing foot, soften into that standing foot, allow the toes to rest on the floor, no need to grip on. The foot is strong, but it’s not tensed up and gripping on for dear life! 

Soften ever so slightly in the standing knee. Slightly soften in the glutes and soften into that lifted hip by trying to allow the bent knee to drop a millimetre towards the ground. The core is engaged, but it's by lifting through the crown of the head, and naturally engaged to help you balance, rather than pulling in your belly so that you can’t breathe deeply. Palms are pushing together, but fingers rest on one another, shoulders are soft and falling away from the ears. Now bring a slight smile to the lips and soften your face. And breathe deeply. 

Softness whilst in a place of Strength.

You can try this, come into the strongest version of Vrksasana with every muscle you have activated, then work through this softening. Feel the difference. 

This Softness whilst in a place of Strength is about not fighting for it, not pushing. I’m not fighting or pushing my body, mind and energies to hold the posture. I’m working, but I’m allowing myself to find and be in the posture. 

In life; strength can be equated to me pushing, fighting for something, trying to control the outcome. The result; stress, anxiety, overthinking, wasted energy, fatigue. 

The alternative is to have that strength, so I can take action, but then to soften into it, give up control, give up the fighting and the pushing. Allow the ‘right’ outcome to materialise. The ‘right’ outcome, being the one which I need, but may not want!

So I ask myself this question;

Where can I show up with strength today, and then how can I soften into it?