Three Stages

There are three stages of movement; establish, flow, dissolve. To establish we have the direction, the balance, and the timing. We intend to go in more than one direction, for instance out the hands and feet. We need to know where the balance point is and feel that, and we need to know when they occur. In the flow then we to know what kind of movement, such as a roll, or a forward bend, a twist, jump or a surrender. For the dissolve we release the excess tension, expand and arrive at the goal and focus on the breath.

In establish we are establishing at least two directions of movement. This also means to get to base of movement. The flow of movement can become refined by knowing where the transition point is, the place where you are balanced. When moving from Mountian to Swan, you tuck the chin and press with hands and the rooted foot (establish) you bring the shoulders almost over the wrists as felt by the weight coming evenly into the hands (establish the balance point) and then you step. This is the flow of movement as you roll through the spine. Then there is the release of any tension, in this case the hips relax down and forward.

Sometimes this can apply to a longer flow, for instance Pyramid Lift is the establishment to the flow towards Triangle 2. Names mark transition points as we don't necessarily pause in each position.

When you work with these ideas they help to find the Continuity of Movement, the elemental flavor, and you find areas where one or the other are missing. For instance many new students do not establish well in the beginning. When moving from Side Warrior, to Runner, they do not wait till the heel is lifted before releasing the hand, because they are not intending to establish the pose then they lose the flow of the spiraling motion and wobble. The surrender of the hips down and forward and the resulting stretch is lost. Once you have a feel for the three terms then you can also see it in others when teaching, and when analyzing you have something to focus on.