by Sarah Platt-Finger: The Law of Detachment says that at the level of spirit, everything is always unfolding perfectly…

We don’t have to struggle or force situations to go our way. Instead, we can intend for everything to work out as it should, take action, and then allow opportunities to spontaneously emerge.

Parsvottanasa: The Law of Detachment

The Law of Detachment is about flexibility, which is an essential component of all of yoga, especially parsvottansana. When we push or become too concerned with the results of this posture, we round our spine, harden the breath, and become susceptible to injury. If we rather connect to the breath and allow it to guide us into the posture, we become less concerned with where we think we should be and more connected to where we are in the present moment. Notice in this pose if you have expectations about where your head should be in relation to your knee, and see how that changes the experience of the pose. As soon as we are in the results we lose the sense of joy and actually hinder ourselves from going deeper. Stay present with the sensations you feel in the backs of the legs. Let each breath in give you length and space, while each breath out moves you deeper into the space that you created.

How To:

From Tadasana: Step your left foot back about three feet directly behind you, bringing your hips to square towards the front of the room. Bring your hands onto your hips and fold forward over the front leg. Lower your hands either to blocks or on the mat on either side of the front foot. As you inhale, lengthen through the spine. As you exhale, release over the front leg. Stay here and breathe about 5 breaths.

Added Value:

Bring your hands into reverse Namaste, or make fists with the hands behind you to open through the shoulder girdle.