Happy Lunar New Year of the Snake!

The snake is a powerful symbol in yoga philosophy, appearing not just in one of my favorite poses—bhujangasana (cobra pose)—but more significantly as a representation of kundalini energy. This vital force is said to rest, coiled like a serpent, at the base of the spine, lying dormant until awakened through dedicated yoga practice.

The opening mantra of Ashtanga Yoga honors this symbolism through a verse dedicated to Sage Patanjali, the author of the Yoga Sutra:

अबाहु पुरुषाकारं
शङ्ख चक्रासि धारिणम्
सहस्र शिरसं श्वेतं
प्रणमामि पतञ्जलिम्

abāhu puruṣākāraṁ
śaṅkha cakrāsi dhāriṇam
sahasra śirasaṁ śvetaṁ
praṇamāmi patañjalim

A deep bow to Patanjali, who, in his divine form, has the upper body of a human and the lower body of a serpent, holding a conch (śaṅkha) for divine sound, a discus (cakra) of light, and a sword (asi) of discriminative awareness, with a thousand radiant white heads.

As with much of yoga philosophy, the serpent is a metaphor for our own inner evolution. It reflects the potential that lies within each of us—to rise, transform, and awaken to our highest nature.

2nd Sundays (February 9)

Next Sunday, our monthly Community Class returns! Join me for an all-levels guided session through the Ashtanga Intermediate Series. This month, I’ll introduce a few variations of Cobra Pose as a preparation for the deep backbends of the Second Series. Whether you’re new to this sequence or looking to deepen your practice, you won’t want to miss it!

Bonus Opportunity

In addition to the regular class schedule, I have space for two more participants in the Wednesday 10 AM Semi-Private Class at the City Center.

Warm Regards,

Adarsh