Healing a cynic’s knee through Anusara yoga

I’m attending an Anusara workshop called “The Secrets of Lotus Hips”, focusing on the knees, hips and pelvis. Anusara practitioners describe the style as “a life-affirming tantric philosophy of intrinsic goodness”. Developed in 1997 by an American yogi, John Friend, its name translates as “flowing with grace”, and “opening to grace” is its first principle. It’s enough to get my cynic’s hackles rising. But the form is fast gaining respect and was recommended by a friend who, while spiritually well-rounded, is also practical. She promised it would sort out my left knee, which has been conspiring with the muscles and tendons of my left leg to stop me snowboarding. Or indeed doing much of anything that doesn’t involve spending lots of money on physiotherapy.

Walking downstairs after class, I notice, after only a few steps, that my hips feel spacious, my usually rigid tendons soft, my knee almost springy. I think about them as I use the spirals to adjust my posture at my desk, and the pain in my hip flexors goes away. And I think about them at midnight, going through some postures before bed even though I’m knackered, because I feel so much better.