Why are so many yoga poses named after animals? It appears that the ancient yogis found imitating animals to be an enlightening experience for both the body and mind. Animals have ample opportunity to release their emotions and tension through hormonal changes in their bodies. We often call this the “fight or flight” response. For instance, snowshoe hares often face multiple predators at a time - any of whom might make them their dinner that day. Yet, they don’t get sick, they don’t die, they don’t become depressed. They continue living and reproducing. As humans, we often struggle to keep ourselves aligned - we do fall victim to that sickness, worry, and depression. The busyness and high-stress levels we place on ourselves prevent us from becoming aware of our bodies’ sensations.
