Sitting direction during Asana.

[Fin]

Does the direction you sit in during asana practice matter?

I read somewhere that it is advisable to sit facing East.

Is this true, and does anyone know the significance?

Thanks.

[Pandara]

Hi Fin,

For yoga it doesn't realy matter as we don't always have control of the orientation of the building, for example the hall i use only allows south facing, so you adapt. But if you can, it is good to face east or north (in the southern hemisphere anyway, i am not sure what is the rules for northern hemisphere).

But for meditation it is important to face east as the energies of the east are more condusive to meditation. It is the place where the sun rise and as such contains much positive energy.

Hope this helps.

[Fin]

hi Pandara,
Thanks for your response.
Yes i can see why facing East is good.
Thanks.
Best
Fin

[Nichole]

Hello Fin,
It is ideal to have your altar, which you face, in the north or east aspects of your house or on the north or east walls. North is ideal if you worship Shiva or Shakti. (Your altar doesn't need to be any more that just your consecrated asana space.) I believe that this is based solely on Vastu; I have never heard of another discipline speaking to it. Because it is based on Vastu, it is the same in either hemisphere. I live and learn in the northern hemisphere and have been taught the same as Pandara. As for why, I don't remember being told that there were specific reasons why. It is a matter of potency and respect, and what Pandara speaks of with regards to facing east makes sense to me.


Namaste,

[InnerAthlete]

What if I don't have an altar?

[Nichole]

Originally Posted by InnerAthlete

What if I don't have an altar?

Are you asking this question to me? And what do you mean exactly by your question?

[Fin]

Originally Posted by Nichole

Hello Fin,
It is ideal to have your altar, which you face, in the north or east aspects of your house or on the north or east walls. North is ideal if you worship Shiva or Shakti. (Your altar doesn't need to be any more that just your consecrated asana space.) I believe that this is based solely on Vastu; I have never heard of another discipline speaking to it. Because it is based on Vastu, it is the same in either hemisphere. I live and learn in the northern hemisphere and have been taught the same as Pandara. As for why, I don't remember being told that there were specific reasons why. It is a matter of potency and respect, and what Pandara speaks of with regards to facing east makes sense to me.

Dear Nichole,

Thank you for the information.

I am particularly grateful for the information regarding position of my altar. This helps me with my puja.

Thanks.
Love,
Fin

[Nichole]

Originally Posted by InnerAthlete

What if I don't have an altar?

Originally Posted by Nichole

Are you asking this question to me? And what do you mean exactly by your question?

I forgot to come back to this and tell you that I finally got the joke!
It was during a bumpy, second-class bus ride in Oaxaca, Mexico and one of those bumps must have knocked something loose because I finally got it.
I had a *wonderful* laugh at myself, thank you kindly your friendship in that.