Image of hairy sheep face by Georgi Kalaydzhiev
The emoji on my phone representing yoga is someone in a lotus position. If you ask me I think Warrior 2 is a far better choice. I feel it's a more popular pose, accessible to most people. It’s a deceptively simple pose, which can make even the hardened yogi cry for mercy.
Back in the day when Soul to Soul* were number one in the charts, and I had just started yoga, the teacher asked us to “jump the feet out into Warrior 2” and nearly killed me. Not only is leaping in and out of poses hard work, but she seemed to hold us there for a solid 20 minutes as she went through all the instructions with meticulous specificity. I half expected her to double check my stance with a ruler and protractor. Years later, I realised that she was an Iyengar teacher, a style of yoga which is notorious for its attention to detail.
Here’s an excerpt from Iyengar’s book ‘Light on Yoga’* for the description of Warrior 2. Perhaps you’ll see why trying to get all this across might last 20 minutes.
1. Stand in Tadasana (mountain pose)
2. Take a deep inhalation and with a jump spread the legs wide apart, sideways, 4 to 4 1/2 feet. Raise the arm sideways in line with the shoulders, palm facing down.
3. Turn the right foot sideways 90 degrees to the right on the left foot slightly to the right, keeping the left leg stretched out and tightened at the knee. Stretching the hamstring muscles of the left leg.
4. Exhale and bend the right knee till the right knee is parallel to the floor. Keeping the right shin perpendicular to the floor, thus forming a right angle between the right thigh and the right calf. The bent knee should not extend beyond the ankle but should be in line with the heel.
5. Stretch out the hand sideways as though two persons are pulling you from opposite ends.
6. Turn the face to the right and gaze at the right palm strike that stretched the back muscles of the left leg fully. The back of the legs, the dorsal region, and the hips should be in one line.
7. Stay in a pose for 20 seconds to half a minute with deep breathing. Inhale and return to position 2.
8. Turn the left foot sideways 90 degrees to the left and the right foot slightly to the left. Flex the left knee and continue from positions three to six on the left side, reversing all the process.
9. Inhale again come back to position 2. Exhale and jump back to Tadasana (mountain pose).
Different Warriors
You’ve probably done a million warrior poses in class – in a Sun Salutation B, there’s a Warrior 1. Balancing on one leg and making a T shape, that’s Warrior 3. You might also have done a chest opening Reverse Warrior or a Humble Warrior bowing the torso and head to the floor. As with many things yoga related, these names and shapes are not necessarily universal. For example, Bikram Yoga has a mixture of Warrior 2 and Extended Side Angle pose and calls it Triangle pose. A Yin yoga teacher might call Skandasana, Retreating Warrior. The Sanskrit name for a Warrior pose is Virabhadrasana.
The Background*
Lord Virabhadra, said to be the fierce form of Lord Shiva, is known for his anger and rage. One story tells of his anger arising out of his love for his wife, Sati. Sati was the daughter of King Daksha, and without his consent, she married Lord Shiva. Despite Sati and Shiva not being invited for a particular yajna (Hindu ritual) organized by King Daksha, Sati attends.
Confronting her father and demanding his reasons for not inviting her and her husband, her father’s response upsets her. Disappointed and in rage, Sati throws herself into the fire. Lord Shiva, knowing that his beloved is no more, out of anger, rips his dreadlock (jata - rope-like strands of hair), creating his other form - a warrior, named Virabhadra.
Virabhadra with the advice of Lord Shiva, destroys the yajna, and beheads King Daksha. This put the heebie-jeebies up all the other gods (who were invited for the yajna), and they scarpered. Seeing this, Lord Shiva calmed himself and he gave life back to King Daksha after Lord Vishnu’s (Lord Brahma) request.
Lord Virabhadra’s appearance is described as one who is tall, dark, and huge, with his body rising to the heavens. He also has three burning eyes, and a fiery dreadlock, and always has his weapons with him.
From the above, the pose Virabhadrasana was created. The pose represents the spirit of a fierce warrior who is prepared to offer his life for a divine mission.
This got me thinking that perhaps there is a better way to cue Warrior 2.
1. From your mountain pose, step the legs wide as though you own the world, and no one and nothing can get you to budge
2. Spread your arms outwards like swords ready to behead any obstacles
3. Proudly expand and flaunt your torso which is protected by gleaming armour made of pure gold
4. Flick your dreadlock away from your face, with lazer vision see everything in front of you and use the eyes at the back of your head to see everything behind you.
5. Breathe here and know that you are FIERCE and no one can mess with you. EVER.
See you in class my dreadlocked, fierce friend!
*Now that I have hit a certain milestone birthday, rather than highlight the passage of time by quoting years, which shocks my system too much, I’ve decided from now on not to refer to years, just songs. I feel it gives a better sense of when we are talking about. Though I may come unstuck when referring to 2000 BC, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.
*According to Tummee.com
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