Tip of the Week: The Exit is Part of the Posture

As important as it is to stay focused and concentrate on alignment when setting up and executing a posture, it is equally important to stay mindful of these things when exiting the posture. Your exit should be as graceful and focused and done as slowly and carefully as your entrance. Many times we work so hard on focusing on the posture itself, that when we hear the instructor say "Change!" we think the posture is over and it's time to relax. But care should be taken to reverse out of the posture in exactly the opposite way as we went into it to protect the spine, keep from straining muscles, and to keep the mind focused. Paying attention to how you start, end, and move between postures will also help to conserve your energy as you flow through class.