At this point, the term “Sridaiva Yoga” was a great question to me, especially considering the fact that I have already looked into many other types of yoga at this point. After a little reading, I was interested to learn that Sridaiva Yoga is actually related to the type of poses that are at the center of Bowspring yoga as well.
Definition – What does Sridaiva Yoga mean?
Sridaiva – a Sanskrit word meaning “divine destiny” – was developed by yoga instructors, John Friend and Desi Springer, and introduced in 2013. Like other types of yoga poses, it works with the body’s natural curves, and can also be applied in sports, dance or even when standing, sitting or walking. It’s based on what’s called the Bowspring posture – an arched back with tight muscles – that the founders say is a neutral alignment that reduces joint and muscle pain while allowing yogis to hold poses longer.
Additionally, Sridaiva is a body-mind postural method that helps with radiant health and well-being that comes from a positive attitude expressed in optimal alignment. It is a life practice in which students take accountability for their own health and happiness through informed choices of their own posture. This is also an alternative movement and posture, applied to yoga to any dynamic posture — sitting, standing, and walking. Students of all ages, particularly over 40, can benefit from the use of the Bowspring alignment to optimize their body-mind health.
Yogapedia explains Sridaiva Yoga
To practice Sridaiva yoga, the hips tip forward as the low back and neck arch, opening the chest and throat. Because the muscles and connective tissue are engaged, the posture is believed to create spring-like energy, leading to the name “Bowspring.” Sridaiva yoga goes beyond the physical posture, focusing on a positive attitude, health, happiness, and well-being. Sridaiva is believed to have these additional benefits:
- Strengthens the muscles of the back body
- Realigns the spine
- Boosts the immune system
- Increases overall flexibility and freedom of movement
- Improves joint and bone health
Work with These Benefits
You have the ability to use Bowspring for all of these benefits, especially in the many different poses and alignments that work with various areas of the body that may need healthy improvement. There are many alignments and bends possible in the spine and hips. They are two of the most mobile structures in the body. A balanced practice requires an exploration of all (or at least many) of these positions. We must bend the spine forward, backward, sideways, twist it and stretch it long. That includes the lumbar (lower) spine, for which the “bow spring” encourages only one position.