2024 Monthly Yoga Poses and Sutras
Theme: Learn Detachment (Vairagya)
Pose of the Year: Salamba Sarvangasana (Supported Shoulderstand)
January
Pose: Tadasana (Mountain Pose) and Savasana (Corpse Pose)
Sutra: 1.12 - Through practice and detachment, the fluctuations of consciousness can be stopped.
February
Pose: Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
Sutra: 1.15 – Renunciation is the practice of detachment from desires.
.
March
Pose: Virabhadrasana I (Warrior Pose #1)
Sutra: 1.16 – Renunciation has many stages.
April
Pose: Utkatasana (Seated Chair Pose)
Sutra: 1.20 – Pursue your practice with trust, confidence and vigor to break the spiritual complacency.
May
Poses: Dandasana (Staff Pose) and Paschimottanasana (Intense Stretch of Back Body)
Sutra: 2.1 – Burning zeal in practice (Tapas), self-study (Swadyaya) and surrender (Iswara Pranidana) are the acts of yoga.
June
Pose: Sirsasana (Headstand)
Sutra: 2.1 – There are 5 afflictions that disturb the equilibrium of the consciousness: ignorance, ego, attachment, aversion, & fear of death.
July
Pose: : Malasana (Garland Pose)
Sutra: 3.1-3.4 - Dharana (Concentration), Dhyana (Meditation) & Samadhi (Emancipation) together constitute Integration or Samyama.
August
Pose: Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose)
Sutras: 3.16-3.33 – Supernatural powers (the Siddhis) are available to the yogi through Samyama.
September
Pose: Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana (Inverted Staff Pose)
Sutra: 3.51 – Through renouncing these supernatural powers comes eternal emancipation.
October
Poses: Bharadvajasana I & II (Sage Pose 1 & 2)
Sutra: I.33 – Cultivate friendliness, compassion, joy and indifference to pleasure and pain. This makes you favorably disposed, serene and benevolent.
November
Poses: Supta Padangusthasana I & II (Reclined Big Toe Pose 1 & 2).
Sutra: 2.42 – From Contentment, unsurpassed happiness is gained.
December
Pose: Salamba Sarvangasana (Supported Shoulderstand)
Sutra: 2.16 Heyam Dukham Anagatam. The suffering yet to come can and should be avoided.