GRAVITY

One of the revolutionary aspects of this approach to Yoga is the way that Vanda Scaravelli made use of gravity. She studied the Egyptians and, through them and her genius, incorporated the way that our feet can use this simple, constant force on earth. The feet become magnets attracted to gravity’s pull, strengthening the legs. At the same time, the upper part of the body becomes light.

Once, when I was teaching this, it led a professional mountain guide to exclaim: “I have spent three quarters of my life in the mountains, but I have never ever felt anything like this before.”

“At the end of our lessons, Vanda usually rode with me for several kilometers on my way back to the city. She would get out at a copse of soaring cypress trees. Hands behind her back in Namasté (the Indian gesture of respect), wearing her ever-present flip-flops no matter what the weather. Feet planted deep into the earth, she created new roots with each step. The downward pull resulted in a lifting of the upper part of the body beginning around the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae as they responded to the force of anti-gravity. She found this meeting point of renewal in her body,”

(found in Yoga What I Learned from Vanda Scaravelli, Elizabeth Lutz Pauncz)

FEET

We owe a great debt to the ancient Egyptians. Kings and queens had surprisingly open and grounded feet. Most of us have lost the knowledge and ability to stand properly. This capacity has been rekindled through Vanda’s teaching. To walk correctly, weight must be felt as it sinks into the back heel. This creates a strong downward pull through the entire leg which continues even when the heel lifts onto the ball of the foot in preparation to take a step. As weight moves forward, this “resistance” (in the heel) induces the toes to lengthen and open. The entire spine is awakened, leading to well-being, grace and a reassuring sense of self with each step. Upon discovery of this new way to walk a Yoga teacher exclaimed: “Talking about feet and heels has been one of the main features of my lessons. Now after only a few days of engaging my feet in this special Egyptian way, I realize that I have understood about 5% of this.”

THE BREATH

The breath is a great friend; its invisible force is pure power. Movements are made while exhaling. Inhalation offers an opportunity to relax. Attuning to this natural process, a new understanding takes place. Forcing or pushing into a position no longer makes sense. I received this letter from someone who had attended my classes: “My Yoga practice has really changed. It’s become much more a relaxing part of my day. I no longer push myself to go beyond what I feel my body wants. I also feel much more grounded than ever before and my focus has greatly widened. It’s really become a ‘body holiday’ as Vanda put it.”

SPIRIT

Disregarding pain, rigidity or discomfort can lead to injuries and frustration. I did not realize how unsatisfactory and unrewarding my practice was (in spite of more than 20 years of serious dedication) until I was initiated into this revolutionary life-changing approach.
My years with Vanda opened up worlds, previously unknown, even though I had been practicing all of the positions and movements correctly. She considered the way one felt at the end of a lesson to be a good indication of what had taken place. Insightful breathing and deep attentive listening bring relief to the psyche. One of the students put it this way: “I have been moved to tears. I don’t have words to describe the feelings. My soul was flying like a butterfly in the summer. I feel so happy.”