Anusara

Anusara takes its name from a verse in the great text, the Kularnava Tantra. It reads in sanskrit, “Shakti-nipata-anusarena sishyo’anugraham-arhati”. This means, by stepping into the currents of Divine Grace’s descent into the heart, the true seeker becomes worthy, enveloped in the Grace that sustains and nurtures his or her every action.

Anusara is flowing with Grace by saying yes to the whole magical spectrum of life. It is a willingness to be aware of all parts of ourselves—the light and the dark, the full rainbow of sensation, perception, emotion, and thought. To be in the flow is to look at whatever arises with freshness and freedom. It is simply to open our hearts with love to the present moment without clinging or pushing. Anusara is accepting the world and ourselves as we are, and then responding with love.

Anusara Yoga teachers practice looking for the good in things, especially in themselves and their students. Anusara Yoga teachers do not try to "fix" or "correct" students, instead they help enhance and reveal the beauty and divine qualities that are already present in the students' poses. One of the other key aspects of this Tantric philosophy is that we are all co-creators with Nature or the Supreme in this life, and this creative freedom makes life fun, exciting and inspiring. --John Friend