Evolutionary Remembering Yoga

In the Council of All Beings John Seed and Joanna Macy used guided meditations and movements to help us reconnect with the Earth. Part of this ritual encourages us to re-experience our evolutionary journey.

Yoga practioners might want to add various asanas mythically associated with nature and animals. Begin with the asana, and then let yourself mimic the movements of animals at different evolutionary stages.

For example, you might begin by imagining the creation of the Earth, about 41/2 billion years ago, by practicing Tadasana, the Mountain Pose.

Life appears first in the ocean. Start with the Fish pose. Then imagine yourself moving through water, with a flexible backbone. About 4590 million years ago, plants emerge from the water and occupy land. Take the tree pose to contemplate roots turning rock into soil.

Next amphibians move tentatively onto land, but live much of their lives in the water. Begin with the frog pose. Then slowly use your forearms to drag your body along, left and right together – or hop!

As reptiles, 200 million years ago, we were liberated from our dependence on water and able to live fully on dry land. Begin with cobra. Then, still crawling on your belly, start to use legs coordinated with arms, alternating from side to side.

Next come warm-blooded mammals. Begin with cat, cow, downward dog. Feel your supple spine. Crawl with your belly off the ground, on hands and knees. How does this newfound freedom feel?

To experience our monkey ancestors, begin with Hanuman pose. Then start moving on hands and feet with greater lightness, increasing playfulness and curiosity. Agile balance and keen vision develop.

Ten million years ago the first humans emerge onto the open savannah. Begin with warrior's pose: alert, poised, looking out.

Then move in the ways of human: vulnerable but adaptive and inventive. Able to look up and easily see the sky. End with the asana that represents the highest human potential, padmasana, the full lotus, the posture of contemplation.

"In your mind's eye," conclude Seed and Macey, "open to any glimpses, images, forms that are waiting to awaken a larger ecological Self, living fully as part of nature expressing our full potential in whatever way may occur to us.

— From Thinking Like a Mountain, Towards a Council of All Beings, by John Seed and Joanna Mac (printed in Yoga Journal).