Presence in the asana practice

Presence (1) in the sense of consciously perceived presence is a desirable state of consciousness for many people, as it generally leads to calmness, inwardness and contentment. There are many approaches and ways in which presence can be developed and it is also understood in different ways.

When we think of presence in the sense of being present with inwardness and calm, especially without being emotionally or mentally driven, we generally think of silent retreats, Zen meditation or Vipassana, insight meditation or Jon Kabat-Zinn, who made the well-known presence training of mindfulness-based stress reduction socially acceptable.

Different approaches in the practice of asana

How can the experience of presence be developed in the practice of yoga exercises, in an āsana? How does consciousness participate in movement? There are certainly different approaches here too.

The body scan, the inner scanning of the body, is a well-known method in the field of relaxation that is also widely used in the physical exercises of yoga. (2) Sensing during and after the performance of an exercise are common methods for achieving peace and integrity with the body. This feeling into the body can also be described as an immersion of the consciousness into the body and thus into its own emotional-subjective world, which can be experienced as very pleasant.

A second, diametrically opposed possibility is to emerge from one’s own subjective inner world into an objective perception. Objectivity in the sense that the perception of the body is not a subjective reality, but that the body is elevated to an object, a counterpart. Consciousness confronts the body here and remains consciously distanced.

Increasing your presence in the New Yoga Will

What practical steps are needed to increase presence in a yoga exercise? Heinz Grill mentions various phases that are completed in awareness during practice (3):

The five practical steps to presence are:
1. Calm down
2. Letting go
3. Actively relate: Perceive the actual state
4. Visualize the ideal state and the steps to get there
5. Implementation in movement

First of all, go into an āsana in an uncomplicated way, for example half moon. You become calm 1.) and let go of the body a little 2.). In this posture, the consciousness becomes somewhat freer, somewhat more alert and can survey the physical conditions, realize the actual state 3.). Based on this observation, the next possibilities and steps for the further development of the movement are presented 4.) and the body is led further into the movement according to this new idea 5.). The body follows the consciousness.

Rest is the starting point, because in rest the body can be surveyed and let go. Letting go can be almost imperceptible, but an outside observer will notice that the body appears less dominant, less intrusive. It recedes a little. The observer will also be able to realize the awake activity of consciousness. In this phase, the presence of the practitioner’s consciousness can be perceived very well. You can almost observe how the consciousness is actively engaged in its thinking and observing activity and also actively relates to the body.

The new form requires some experience and an understanding of the meaning and content of āsana. You need to know where to tense, where best to relax and how to lead the body further into it. To do this, it makes sense for those who want to develop increased presence to deal with the practical and mental-spiritual content of an āsana.

With the half moon, he notices a direction of movement down to the ground of the earth on the one hand and a sliding out with the upper body into cosmic space on the other. These two directions of movement support each other. The more the body sinks in, the easier the upper body moves out and vice versa.

The first three steps are generally known and are practiced in this way in many different yoga styles. From the fourth point onwards, the demand on awareness increases considerably, which can be described as an increase in presence.

The 5 phases can now be repeated several times in succession. It is amazing how the body can overcome its own resistance and how the movement in āsana can be developed further and further.

The crossing of boundaries lies in the movement from subjective to objective experience. This is guided by a consciousness that relates freely and awake to the body and finally the body is led out of the consciousness into the new form.

Presence is understood here in the sense of an objective, free, alert and calm perception of the other person. In this case, the other person is your own body.

by Angelika

(1) Presence: Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, Retrieved on February 9, 2026.
(2) Bodyscan: Buddha Foundation, Retrieved February 9, 2026.
(3) Quote from Heinz Grill, Study Days at the Lundo Free Spiritual College, September 2025. See also: The 5th chakra develops through clear and guided awareness activity Retrieved February 9, 2026.

Further links:
A detailed description of the guidance of the body from consciousness can be found in the article: Logic and Laws of Health XIX – The Activation of Cellular Respiration and Cellular Transillumination from March 13, 2025. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
Aurora Wiki: Presence. Retrieved February 9, 2026.