ISLANDS OF GRACE: Key Elements of Restorative-Yin Yoga

 Svetlana Nikolova art

ISLANDS OF GRACE [Restorative-Yin Yoga] that comprise the body of 155 blog posts on https://santosharestorative-yinyogajournal.blogspot.com prioritize spirit rather than ‘technique.’ Until fairly modern times, ‘yoga’ was more related to meditation/contemplation than to sequences of poses or ‘asanas.’ In yogic art history, the asana is consistently a seated pose across time and the foundational literature barely references the term ’asana.’ 

Restorative-Yin yoga is modern in its use of a sequence of asanas but in a way that provokes calmness more than fitness. Further, it is distinguished by emphasis on lumbar, thoracic and cervical spinal curves and their ‘awakening.’ These asanas aspire to calmly release these vertebrate, and are almost exclusively on the mat in reclining, supine and seated asanas.. Asanas are not forced, following breath and body movement where ‘no-pain [or discomfort] is gain.’ Poses and flow take on the feel of becoming more ISLANDS OF GRACE rather than a fitness class. While a session may last an hour and a half or more, the practice is enjoyable and relaxing, finding resilience in the body and integration with mind, a neuroendocrine shift, and listening and following the body, opening rather than rigorous “training” and discipline. 

PRINCIPLE DYNAMICS

Emphasis is on Nerve Spindles in muscle tissue and Golgi Response in connective tissue:

The primary body activity involves releasing nerves in muscle and connective tissue by relaxing release vs. efforts to stretch or more forceful fitness conditioning. Muscle goes from A to B and does not really get longer. Accordingly, the change mechanism is not in making the muscle or ligament longer so as to become more flexible or stretched. The emphasis is the softening of habituated, rigid muscle/ligament restriction. Nerve process in muscles and ligaments functionally both restricts and produces discomfort to protect tissue from injury rather than release and injure. 

However, Islands of Grace practice gradually counters the fitness orientation to ‘force and strengthen’ that does functionally strengthen in sequences of asanas. Instead, it increases the comfort of muscles and ligaments, and so turns down the the restriction. The resulting practice is more like a cat’s eased stretching than a fitness workout pushing through the discomfort, where ‘pain’ is gain, evoking thoughts of “How much longer in this pose?”

In addition to ‘kind’ Island of Grace asanas, support is encouraged in the form of blocks and bolsters, small inflated exercise balls and firm blankets, the addition of covering softer blankets, eye pillows or scarves, arm covers, incense, soft music, low light, and fragrances such as lavender/sandalwood spray.

Pulsing/Flow:

“Pulsing” is a newer practice in Islands of Grace. Restorative yoga is supportive deep relaxation more than a form of asanas and yin yoga holds a few positions that are held longer and are less comfortable.

In Restorative-Yin Yoga, a pose may be continued for a time yet shifted to a counter-stretch, and then back to the original pose in a sort of wave pattern, and this pattern is repeated several times. Gradually, the nerves in tissue release [as they experience less stress and pressure so that reaching and bending begin to have a larger range without discomfort.] Muscles and ligaments do not ‘grow’ longer. Rather, the muscles and ligaments can open their natural range which is typically restricted to protect against strains and injuries, but that often has become limited to a narrow range from habitual inactivity across time. 

Spirit & Body-Mind & Optimal Health:

In the calmness of Restorative-Yin Yoga, emphasis is upon listening and following the body to allow for the inherent wisdom of eons of evolutionary design to work. Doing a sequence or ‘islands’ of eased poses and flow allows muscles that compensate for nearby muscles and ligaments to relax so that each muscle/ligament can return to it’s original purpose rather than overcompensate for other muscles/ligaments.  As this reintegration and physical cooperation physically returns in the body, so too a neurochemistry shift occurs from a less balanced and stress-driven neurochemistry to one that is stress-reducing and integrative. This supports a mental transition that evokes feelings of peacefulness, grace, harmony, even eloquence. These are commonly described attributes of a spiritual person that are not typically associated with outcomes of modern yoga ‘fitness” classes. Restorative-Yin Yoga is is not an esoteric practice, but rather, a physical connective tissue release and neuroendocrine stress release that can take a deeper step forward toward ‘Spirit.” The ISLANDS OF GRACE blog does offer metaphors that do come out of this practice that transcend the physical process.

Technique: Sketch of a pose with “pulsing.”

Without looking at a intentional RESTORATIVE-YIN YOGA practice session, let’s begin with coming to the mat and taking BALASANA [‘child’] breathing into the belly and becoming aware of the supportive stretch it brings to the lumbar region, then perhaps opening the knees somewhat (only to the degree that it is comfortable).  From here, sliding both hands forward on the mat [feeling the lats stretch] and placing the forehead on a block to avoid discomfort in he spine. Only reach as far as is comfortable  and stay there continuing to breath into the belly which supports the lumbar radian of the spine. Fairly soon, raise up to the seated VIRASANA and slide hands back behind the hips with fingers pointing forward toward the front of the mat. [This opens the shoulders and the wrists and stabiles the elbows.] Inhale and draw the shoulders back compressing comfortably the muscle layers in the upper back.

Next turn the fingers/ hand toward the back, inhale and open the chest and slowly roll the head back. [This counter-stretches the spine]. From here, return to bending forward and sliding hands forward and lowering head. THIS IS PULSING WHICH AFTER A FEW REPETITIONS WILL BE EXPERIENCED AS RELEASING MUSCLE NERVE SPINDLES AND GOLGI RESPONSE IN LIGAMENTS AS EVIDENCED BY YOUR CAPACITY TO REACH FURTHER WITH GREATER EASE THAN ORIGINALLY WERE POSSIBLE WITHOUT DISCOMFORT. 

This can be repeated in other poses such as a typically “ouchy" seated paschimottanasana, but modified, using bended legs rather than legs flat on the mat, followed by a pulsing inhale into sitting up and exhaling back and forward into the modified paschimottanasana, so of with the mindset of acting like a cat—not forcing, actually enjoying the stretch. Mott or utt as in uttanasana capture the intensity and ‘ouchyness’ that are leading to force rather than release that are supported by bending knees vs. straight legs that then focus on the lumbar rather than on the hamstrings. The flexibility is needed in the lumbar to facilitate the ability to touch toes in uttanasana. Pulsing in various asanas in the practice session keeps the practice flow soft and gently releasing—no pain, that will optimize flexibility across time as well as a shift in neuroendocrine production to favor calmness. 

With deeper practice leading to release, basic Island Of Grace poses that are beginner and level 1 can add Level 2 poses that primarily involve the capacity to move from turning to revolved and deeply split poses, but this can be a step away back to ego fitness mentality.

Vritti & Annica

Vritti [Sanskrit, Waves of thought and emotion that ceaselessly arise]

Annica [Pali, Impermanence]

Kinseth, 2024

Restorative-Yin Yoga Sequence, Parts 1--4

 Restorative Yin Yoga Sequences, 12 Parts

I: Part 1, Parts 1--4

To get a sense of a Restorative-Yin Process: Not just poses but rather what one brings to the poses...A Sketch

Part 1, Poses 1-4 of 12

Slowly, with intent to hold poses comfortably vs. move fast, and make sure that there is no pain if you want flexibility gain. Pain for gain is more for stability and it is the heart of vinyasa flow and this is not vinyasa flow. When uncomfortable, always, always back off (not folding or stretching as far).  Follow the body vs. force the body, gradually note little gains in bending and reaching as nerve bundles in muscles and facia release, and enjoy the little graces you find there. The yoga pose does not have to be static or frozen, allow the pose to open.

Flex gain requires muscle and fascia release. Muscles and ligaments have a beginning and end point of attachment and so they cannot stretch much more. Flexibility is controlled by nerves that restrict stretch, and when we try to stretch muscles, micro-nerve bundles fire and we feel discomfort. By going softly, nerve bundles are not triggered and do not fire. Overtime, we can bend with little or no discomfort. Such flexibility is not simply a flexible body.  This approach can improve overall flow in the body, even in soft tissue such as the lymphatic system as well as improve brain and endocrine function that regulate body processes. 

Restorative-yin is about flexibility, modifying neuro-endocrine chemistry that over repeated practice sessions can make us less reactive to stressors. Mechanically, selected poses bring particular attention to lower back/lumbar and pelvic girdle and shoulders/posture. Overall, be smarter than a human and stretch like a cat that knows how to not hurt itself; listen to the body.

Use cushions/blocks for support, soft mat (“pilates-like mat” or even thicker), music, fragrance, blankets for cover when it seems feasible for you. Support is not cheating.  It is what you should do to be able to relax and become more flexible. Flexibility that can make you aspire to eventually look like a “knot” can become a problematic obsession. It is enough to improve flexibility that helps you function, so that a more realistic practice is one that helps improve everyday functionality. The goal here is more of an optimal health and a more comfortable path to get there.

Seated or lying down, perhaps with blankets:

First Excellence: centering and opening/expanding

Breath

perhaps bring attention to breath, just as it is. With slight open lips, sense cool breath entering and warm breath exiting. Notice freshness washing awareness. Follow the breath, as it is, rather than intentionally breath. Perhaps 20,000 breaths per day with little attention, bringing attention to the imminent breath. Perhaps a gatha--in breath: “freshness”; out-breath: “releasing.”

perhaps breathing into belly, into diaphragm, into chest, then exhaling from belly, then diaphragm, the chest

perhaps attend to the exhale, allowing the breath to completely empty. Now or soon, await the return of the breath in this space of “perfect;y peaceful pause.”

Perhaps note the reduction of breaths per minute from perhaps 15 to 6 or 4 breaths with no drop in percentage of oxidation.

Second Excellence: perhaps allow some intention for today’s practice to emerge rather than setting an intention. Allow this intention to occur now or later.

Balasana--On your knees and folding forward, a little of B.1 (knees together) and B.2 (knees split): breath into belly to massage now-compressed organs as well as support the back (noting with breath-in, a little more comfort than breath-out), soften shoulders; if not comfortable when folding forward, put head on double fists or a block, then reach arms out forward for a Virasana fold to stretch lats and gradually reach further as lats release

Counter: sit up in Virasana (still on knees), place hands on floor behind back with fingers facing toward body to stabilize elbows and bend spine inward; pull shoulders back to open chest then pulse shoulders into a hunch to open muscles in upper back, repeat a few times.

Kneeling Down Dog--come up to knees, lower chest toward mat and extend arms (if needed use block or cushion under upper chest above breasts for relaxing support that allows more gradual opening than forcing the pose); then change the pose slightly by stretching both extended arms out to one side angle and then shift to the other side angle to turn spine, repeat both sides.

Malasana--come up to a squat and press hands together in front and make spine erect; then reach both hands out on the floor in front while maintaining upright postion, and gradually move the hands into the floor between the feet stretching the spine further outward; then in an erect squat, turn right raised hand out to one side using left hand on floor for support, shift to turn other raised hand out to the other side, gently twisting the vertical spine, repeat slowly to stretch muscle on lower chest sides. If it is not comfortable to sink deeply enough to make spine vertically erect, then tilt chest forward and overtime as flex improves go for more verticality. If there are knee problems that seem to make this pose difficult, skip this pose for now.

OPTION HERE: Having completed malasana, you can flow into Uttanasana (standing forward fold). Note that the “utt” in standing and seated forward folds means ‘intense,’ and if you straighten your legs you will feel the intensity in your hamstrings in your back 

Rain love Grow love

Lance Kinseth 2021

Restorative-Yin Into Soft Power

 

A Restorative-Yin Yoga Sequence Sampler

Copyright Lance Kinseth, Moon Lotus/Getsuren, 2011

NOTE: This Sampler was published in 3/3/2011. Through the years, the approach has been modified depending on the needs of the group.  Generally, the sequence has focused on hips and lumbar, shoulders and briefly on cervical curve of neck.  Currently, a session lasted perhaps 2 hours and leaves one feeling deeply relaxed.  The focus is on relaxing nerves in muscles and ligaments (spindle release and organ of Golgi). It requires a minimum of two sessions per week and can be daily as well. Doing next to nothing and spending more than an hour on your back for lumbar and hip work in a way that is not painful not only improves flexibility but, surprisingly, strength.  This work is more about flexibility than stability.  Vinyasa flow is more about stability even though most people are seeking flexibility when they come to yoga. In the last several years, the focus has involved being in the pose for a good time, but flowing in the pose vs. being static.  This is very enjoyable with a strong emphasis on no pain or discomfort--following and opening the pose as the nerves release muscles and ligaments. The restorative-yin phase can be adapted to Level 1 and Level 2.  At Level 1, it can be difficult--surprisingly--for skilled yogis. Level 2 emphasizes revolved positions vs. only turns, and I am not sure that it is really that valuable and may really be some sort of yoga overkill. I have made audio tapes of sessions somewhat similar to this sequence but they are not available for distribution.  Overall, this approach is deeply relaxing with each pose offering a island of grace.  Blankets, fragrance-especially lavender and sandalwood incense and fragrance drops on eye pillows, low light or soft light, and supports are used.  Supports are not 'cheaters,' but rather relax and support areas that gradually open. Without a set sequence, you can do a nice practice by laying on back on a more cushioned mat such as a pilates mat, coving with a blanket, flattening feet on the matt, swaying knees side-to side very slowing, pressing spine into matt, crossing legs, grabbing each foot, and eventually shifting over into child, turned child, astangasana, and then into leg up wall for your final pose (and maybe doing some yin leg up wall variations). Find some of these "islands of grace.  Do not continue being so hard on yourself. On this site, there are well over a couple of books of material, much of it leaning into the spirit and art of yoga. 

Overall Restorative Components:

• Pose Followed By Counter-Pose: Poses are selected that tend to provide a pose that stretches the lumbar region and/or hips, followed by a pose that counters the lumbar stretch.
• Support: Blankets, blocks, bolsters and straps are utilized on most poses to relax muscles to relax and open the body and to concentrate on connective tissue. 
• Longer Duration Of Pose:  3 minutes to 20 minutes allows for deep relaxation for healing restoration as well as stretching of connective tissue.  Introductory Restorative-Yin sessions may utilize shorter durations to begin to familiarize participants with the practice and to experience more options.  Restorative retreats may utilize rather lengthy durations to deepen relaxation, restoration and deep listening to body-mind-spirit. 
• Brief Intermediary Poses: intermediary poses are used primarily for gradual transitions between primary poses, for relaxation, for massaging movements, and as points for experiences such as guided imagery.
• Inversions And Twists: Inversions and twists are typically integrated near the end of the session.

The order of poses is not critical, nor is the sequence of ten poses inclusive.  It can be helpful to begin with gentle poses and gradually move toward more “active” poses with twists near the end for rebalancing.

There are practice blends where Yin Yoga or “gentle flow” might be the central practice, with some restorative poses as adjuncts.  While this can positively increase the calmness of yoga practice, it can miss the core values of restoration and deep relaxation.

Intensity of the stretch can be increased for more of a Yin Yoga orientation for participants who experience a need for this in a particular session.

A Sample Ten Part Restorative-Yin Sequence

1.   Supported Sphinx

2.   Supported Child

3.   Supported Reclining Bound Angle

4.   Supported Forward Fold/Butterfly

5.   Supported Half Bridge

6.   Supported Happy Baby

7.   Supported Legs-Up-The-Wall Variations:  Up Wall/Pigeon/Splits/Bound Angle

8.   Supported Kneeling Dog

9.   Supported Reclining Side Twist

10. Savasana

Description:

1] Supported Sphinx

A rather gentle pose: On belly, chest supported by blanket roll with head supported on block tilted toward head at an angle (to fit forehead)

Options: More intensive: Supported Cobra/Seal Pose

2] Supported Child

A gentle pose, but increasing height of the support increases the lumbar stretch: On bent knees, (with one block between knees, then space for folded hands, then second block in front) hug a blanket roll with folded blanket on top of roll that are raised on two blocks.  [Some participants may have difficulty keeping thighs on calves, and tend to lean forward and rest more on supports.  Support can be placed on legs between thighs and calves as well as under shins.]

3] Supported Reclining Bound Angle / Supine Goddess /Cobbler Pose

Perhaps the “heart pose” of restorative yoga, but sometimes the bound angle aspect may be discomforting for some: On back, [A] support upper back (and/or head) on blanket roll (or upper back only on block raised to various heights for more lumbar stretch) and [B] bend legs—soles of feet touching near groin—supported by blocks under knees, with optional strap circling lower back and feet for additional support

Option: “Mountain Brook” Pose (with legs straight and supported on a blanket roll under knees); in addition, arms may be supported on blankets as well as body draped in blanket, eye pillows

4] Supported Bound Angle Forward Fold (similar to a Yin  “Butterfly Pose”)

A more active stretch: Seated, soles of feet together with knees supported on blocks, leaning forward and hugging a bolster, optional strap binding hips and feet (Intensity of stretch can be increased by moving support forward.)

Options: Supported Head-To-Knee Pose, Supported Forward Fold, Supported Half Butterfly Pose—all supported with blanket roll under bent knee(s); or Legs Apart Pose with knees bent to ninety degree angles [similar to Yin “Dragonfly”]

5] Supported Half Bridge

Restful yet active with a slight inversion quality: On back, blanket low under head and upper back with pelvis on block (raised to various heights for increased intensity of the lumbar stretch) or bolster

6] Supported “Bound” Happy Baby

Allows for a nice transition from Half Bridge, but somewhat more active if legs are extended up for the extended pose rather than folded: On back, legs bent forward with feet toward the ceiling, supported by blanket roll up against and slightly under gluts but not under pelvis (increasing outward lumbar arch, and supporting legs to fall forward), with optional strap around ankles; hands grabbinginside outside of extended feet or big toes

Options: Easy: Folded Pose [apanasana]—“Give Self Hug” Pose (Practitioners can shift to apanasana midway through “Happy Baby” for relaxation.

7] Supported Legs Up Wall

Once experienced, a favored pose for most participants—a refreshing inversion that can be held for a long time, and very calming, especially when wrapped in blanket(s): On back, hips and lower back supported on a blanket roll or bolster, gluts close to the wall with legs supported on the wall, optional blanket wrapped around legs and over chest and optional strap around ankles or hips for various pose options

Several options for leg position:

1) Legs straight up [option: bound for support],

2) “Butterfly on wall”: knees bent to the sides with soles of feet joined   [option: bound for support],

3) “Eye of needle”/pigeon: rotate between left and right leg crossed at knee, with option to turn sole of foot to the wall for additional lumbar stretch,

4) Both legs split out to both sides,

5) Rotate both legs lowered to one side, variation of above: turn right, lower right leg to floor, bring bent left leg over to floor if possible, repeat on other side

6) More intense: soles of both feet on the wall, legs bent toward 90 degrees, hips lifted off floor or support and pose held; additionally

8) More intense: extend one leg back overhead and hold [repeat on other side].

9) OPTION NEAR END: Side twist: turn to right, bring right leg down and put sole of right bent foot on wall, then bring left bent leg over to floor if possible. 

Options: Easy: raise legs on blankets or bolsters or ball or chair, or with knees bent to ninety degrees on chairs; COUNTER WALL POSE: Roll over onto belly, then bend knees and place legs with insteps on wall at 90 degrees, elbows on matt at shoulders—“Sphinx “on wall or more difficult Seal on wall [arms out at angles]

8] Supported “Kneeling Dog”

Very restful once participants get high enough chest support, and offers a slight inversion: Kneeling forward with legs bent at ninety degrees, lean forward with chest on bolster or high blanket roll and arms folded on matt and head turned to the side—lumbar curve/belly “sink” toward matt as in table top cow

Option: Easy: tabletop cow; tabletop “cow” but laying chest on a chair or footstool

9] Supported Reclining Spinal Twist [rotate both sides]

One variety of a number of twists that is restful with support: On back with legs straight, turn onto right side bringing left leg straight out to the right on a blanket roll, turn upper body to the left extending left arm to the left on a blanket tube or blocks, head can be turned to the left for a twist of the cervical region

10] Savasana

On back, normal breath, blanket under the thighs and soles of feet pressing against a blanket roll, with blanket(s) covering the body

Options: Reverse Savasana (on belly with one leg bent inward—leg and head on pillow); basic “Legs Up Wall” Savasana; Yin “pentacle pose” (on back, with arms and legs outspread, maximizing body surface contact with floor)

INTERMEDIARY POSES

Intermediary poses are optional, and designed to sustain the process of calm relaxation in the process of transitioning between selected restorative poses.  In flowing from back to a seated position, apanasana fits well.  In briefly releasing a forward stretch, slowing coming to a seated pose and leaning back on hands to counter the pose is natural and fluid.  In releasing from a bridge pose, imprinting the lower back into the matt, doing apanasana, and then keeping knees bent and rotating knees in small circles massages the lower back and pelvis.  Reclining on back provides a relaxing state as physiology continues to calm, to listen to the body rather than do something, as well as provide an opportunity to shift into guided imagery that either explores body sensations or intuitive responses.

 

Examples:

(a) 1--Lie on back, bring knees to chest and hug legs [apanasana]; 2—On back: from apanasana, rotate to massage lower back/pelvis

 (b) Listen to physiology: heart beat, heart pulse in lips/face/hands; listen to ring in ears

(c) Reclining On Side: Blissful Baby: Lay on side in fetal position [As a longer held restorative pose, support such as a blanket between the knees might be added.

(d) Child’s Pose: Exhale and slowly release your belly and lower your torso and head to the floor. Turn your head to one side. Lie quietly for a while, broadening your back with each inhale, and releasing any tension with each exhale. Reach tailbone toward the back while stretching arms forward.  Bring hands to side near heel, then hands clasped on back, then raised above back to a point that is “edgy,” yet comfortable.

(e) Gentle Cat/Cow/Child vinyasa

(f) Guided body scans

(g) Guided Imagery:  recalling an early childhood memory; meeting a teacher/healer; being in a favorite healing/relaxing place (either real or imagined); opening body; grounding or floating

(h) Concepts: “thriving” vs. surviving, optimal health, and transformation

(i) “Themes:” surrender, eloquence, oneness/wholeness, kindness

             

Breath

One of great gifts from across Southeast Asia was attention to the breath.  This attention goes back more than twenty centuries. The root meaning of the Chinese kanji 合 that accessed the Chi, ki, or prana--the life force that permeated everything--was breath. Of course as directly life-giving, breath is apparent.  A few minutes of suppressing breath can cause death. And yet, for all its value, filling each moment with perhaps 20,000 breaths per day, our breath goes largely unnoticed.  

It is unusual that attention to breath in various ways, either by following or by manipulating breath, became a gateway to transformation of consciousness, identity and inseparability. One of the strong names for this attention was ‘yoga.’

While yoga became a term that outspread to many actions both kind and brutal, its practice, even as a binding activity in militant discipline, was--for most of its existence--was largely seated stillness and breath. Not one of many poses, the pose or

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A Restorative-Yin Breath Sequence

In restorative yoga, poses are deeply relaxing.  In restorative-yin yoga, poses are sequenced to add longer-held poses that are gentle and supported to primarily exercise lower back and shoulders.

Restorative-yin yoga begins by either sitting in stillness or supine, covered by blanket (with options for eye cover, hand cover/weights, fragrance, music). This sequence can be practiced in the restorative-yin poses that follow this in-tial breath sequence.

Following silent seated or supine pose, attention is directed to a breath sequence of

noticing breath as-it-is,

following the inflow and outflow (prana & apana) and allowing it to come to balance, 

noticing and following the out-breath and allowing it to completely release, and

noticing the appearance of the ‘perfectly peaceful pause’ that develops at the end of the out-breath.

The emphasis is upon following the breath (as a preparation to follow the body in restorative-yin poses to follow, rather than forcing the poses or manipulating the breath). This breath sequence becomes a model to apply to the restorative-yin poses. The poses are to approached “islands of grace” that will utilize next to no intentional effort to allow each suggested pose to come to you.

In this breath sequence, a normal rate of 10 -15 breaths per minute is easily reduced to 6 or 4 breaths per minute with no discomfort and a normal oxygen percentage likely maintaining at a 98% level. The body-mind connection begins to  change almost immediately (as if measured in EEG brainwaves) with the appearance of higher amplitude alpha waves, followed by a deeper alpha, and occasionally by deeper amplitude theta trains (although the breath sequence is not

exceedingly long enough to regularly anticipate their presence).  

When reclining (the major choice of participants to date), this breath sequence resembles savasana that may be done at the end of the restorative-yin sequence (or a more popular choice by participants--viparita karani [legs up wall]. Savasana is akin to a Western body relaxation process that begins with tensing muscles in a various body regions such as a leg and then relaxing those muscles. Modern yoga has a tensing savasna ‘pose’ that I have offered to participants, but have never seen done in modern yoga classes--seegra savasana [stiff corpse].

During this breath sequence in restorative-yin yoga, three ‘Excellences of Yoga’ are opened: (1) Centering/grounding, coming to the mat, being supported by the Earth, (2) Allowing an intention for this practice to emerge from within vs. setting a goal, and (3) opening the niyama of santosha to allow this practice to value comfort with where we are at throughout the practice session. 

With just this sequence of breath, you could stop right there, and you would have the very multitude of centuries’ enduring heart and promise of yoga.  It is about this breath and the road that it opens far, far more than it is about becoming a Gumby figure.  Ultimately, it is not about a ‘you’ at all.