“The presentation of an idea, apparently improvised, is only valid if there has been adequate study and preparation…”
Miyamoto Musashi translated by Stephen F. Kaufman

The Martial Artist’s Book of Five Rings

Reading Asana – Alternating

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Let’s have a look a sequence that includes alternation between two sides – a simple upper raised leg posture:

This illustration says:

  • on inhale raise your arms
  • on exhale bring your arms forward and raise one leg up
  • on inhale bring raise your arms again and return the leg to the floor
  • repeat this 8 times alternating between the two legs (so each leg will be raised a total of 4 times, but alternating).
  • on the 9th exhale bring your arms back alongside your body

A shorthand, generic version of this illustration may be:

As we explored in the sequence explanation – it would be up to you to decide how to perform this sequence: (1) alternate between sides using the entire sequence – including a return to the starting position; (2) alternate just the legs and then come back to the starting position – as described above.

Finally, see if you can you tell the difference between the two illustrations above and this next illustration:

This illustration describes a sequence without alternation. Each leg is lowered and raised 4 times consecutively. So there is a total of 8 lifts but on each leg separately. This variation may be more physically challenging – because there is a longer consecutive effort for each leg.

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