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AstroYoga · Kriyā on a chair

Revatī

Decreasing carrying support — restored availability

Support→Target→Integration
Revatī kriyā on the chair
01

Support

Seated Sama Sthiti

Balanced sitting

Concrete purposeGradually reduce carrying support until it becomes unnecessary and availability can be restored to the body.

1. Settle in

Sit in the centre of the chair, feet fully grounded, knees comfortably bent, pelvis stable and hands on the thighs.

2. Enter and hold

Support — Seated Sama Sthiti — Balanced sitting. Organise the trunk above the pelvis without rigidity. Keep the backrest available without leaning on it unless the phase calls for it.

Desired sensation

Practice is complete when the chosen aid can be fully removed without compensatory effort, needing to preserve the resulting form or losing functional comfort ; the supported part can freely return to an ordinary position ; and neutral remains awake, alive and complete enough for the session to truly end.

Success criterion

Practice is complete when the chosen aid can be fully removed without compensatory effort, needing to preserve the resulting form or losing functional comfort ; the supported part can freely return to an ordinary position ; and neutral remains awake, alive and complete enough for the session to truly end. Success is not staying unsupported as long as possible. It is recognising that support has fulfilled its function and can now become unnecessary.

Adaptations, exit and precautions

Simple variationReduce the range, keep more contact with the seat or backrest, or stay at the first stable stage. The variation must preserve the same grammar without turning the chair into a lever.

Mistakes to avoidRemoving support needed for safety or holding the form as help disappears. Do not add a second intensification once the phase criterion is met.

Physical cautionsReduce or stop in case of pain, dizziness, numbness, increasing joint discomfort or lasting loss of comfortable breathing. No maximum range is sought. Check that the chair is stable, has no wheels and never becomes a pulling lever.

02

Target

Balanced sitting with decreasing carrying support of one forearm

1. Settle in

From Support, prepare the transition towards Balanced sitting with decreasing carrying support of one forearm. Sit in balanced sitting, feet grounded. Choose a forearm and broadly receive it in the other hand or against the lap as shown.

2. Enter and hold

Target — Balanced sitting with decreasing carrying support of one forearm. Gradually reduce the help given to the arm : from clear carrying to simple contact, then no support if the arm stays free without shoulder lifting or tension. Choose one auxiliary aid and reduce it in at most two small stages : broad support, reduced support, then zero support. Dosage : At most three stages : broad carrying support, a few fingers, zero help. The limb has nothing to hold after withdrawal.

Desired sensation

Practice is complete when the chosen aid can be fully removed without compensatory effort, needing to preserve the resulting form or losing functional comfort ; the supported part can freely return to an ordinary position ; and neutral remains awake, alive and complete enough for the session to truly end.

Success criterion

Practice is complete when the chosen aid can be fully removed without compensatory effort, needing to preserve the resulting form or losing functional comfort ; the supported part can freely return to an ordinary position ; and neutral remains awake, alive and complete enough for the session to truly end. Success is not staying unsupported as long as possible. It is recognising that support has fulfilled its function and can now become unnecessary.

Adaptations, exit and precautions

Simple variationReduce the range, keep more contact with the seat or backrest, or stay at the first stable stage. The variation must preserve the same grammar without turning the chair into a lever.

Mistakes to avoidRemoving support needed for safety or holding the form as help disappears. Do not add a second intensification once the phase criterion is met.

Physical cautionsReduce or stop in case of pain, dizziness, numbness, increasing joint discomfort or lasting loss of comfortable breathing. No maximum range is sought. Check that the chair is stable, has no wheels and never becomes a pulling lever.

03

Integration

Back-supported sitting

Leaving the posture

Integration — Back-supported sitting. Sit with feet firmly grounded, then let the back meet the backrest over as broad a surface as is comfortable. Reduce the effort of holding the trunk and let the support truly carry part of the weight. The hands remain free, without gripping the chair. After fully removing the chosen aid, return to an awake neutral where nothing needs holding.

Desired sensation

Practice is complete when the chosen aid can be fully removed without compensatory effort, needing to preserve the resulting form or losing functional comfort ; the supported part can freely return to an ordinary position ; and neutral remains awake, alive and complete enough for the session to truly end.

Success criterion

Practice is complete when the chosen aid can be fully removed without compensatory effort, needing to preserve the resulting form or losing functional comfort ; the supported part can freely return to an ordinary position ; and neutral remains awake, alive and complete enough for the session to truly end. Success is not staying unsupported as long as possible. It is recognising that support has fulfilled its function and can now become unnecessary.

Adaptations, exit and precautions

Simple variationReduce the range, keep more contact with the seat or backrest, or stay at the first stable stage. The variation must preserve the same grammar without turning the chair into a lever.

Leaving the postureIntegration — Back-supported sitting. Sit with feet firmly grounded, then let the back meet the backrest over as broad a surface as is comfortable. Reduce the effort of holding the trunk and let the support truly carry part of the weight. The hands remain free, without gripping the chair. After fully removing the chosen aid, return to an awake neutral where nothing needs holding.

Mistakes to avoidRemoving support needed for safety or holding the form as help disappears. Do not add a second intensification once the phase criterion is met.

Physical cautionsReduce or stop in case of pain, dizziness, numbness, increasing joint discomfort or lasting loss of comfortable breathing. No maximum range is sought. Check that the chair is stable, has no wheels and never becomes a pulling lever.