Choose Your Path

Supreme Release yoga (SRY) is a therapeutic approach to asana that aims to gently decompress the spine. Founded in the tantric vision of the body, the physical practice is a gateway to a deep, meditative, inward experience. Methodically releasing long held bodily tension, SRY has a profound effect on body, mind, and spirit that is nourishing, revitalizing, and revelatory. 

Gentle and deep, accessible and advanced, SRY is a slow and inward oriented  yoga practice.

We let go of the hustling, grinding, and pushing of “regular life” and instead take on the inner attitude of a yogic seeker: opening ourselves for the sake of being available to deep and timeless wisdom.

SRY is a yoga practice that almost everyone can benefit from, and it does have some particular effects that are especially suitable and beneficial for people experiencing:

-back pain, stiffness and tension

-aching joints, especially spine, hips, knees, shoulders.

-burnout, depletion, exhaustion, and chronic fatigue

-stress & anxiety

-high vata & vata derangement (to use ayurveda language)

-insomnia and trouble sleeping

-mental overwhelm, busy mind

-perfectionism and a harsh sense of self judgement

-chronic pain (you must be cleared by your doctor)

-adhd, add

-trouble with digestion or menstruation

SRY is also a practice that is great for seasoned yoga and meditation practitioners, spiritual seekers, and people who want to be more in touch with themselves & their intuition.

If you have a medical condition or diagnosis, injury, physical limitation, or are recovering from one, you must be cleared by your doctor to start a new yoga practice.

-If you have an acute injury or are recovering from a surgery or procedure, you should not practice SRY until you are healed and cleared by your doctor.

-If you are having an acute mental health crisis, SRY is contraindicated.

-You should not begin practicing SRY if you are in the first trimester of pregnancy (second and third trimesters are ok). **SRY is ok, and even beneficial during pregnancy (all trimesters) if you already have an established SRY practice.

SRY is incredible for working with long held patterns and chronic conditions. In the yoga tradition, there is something for everyone. If any of the above describes you, know that there is another part of the yoga tradition that can support your needs right now, and that SRY will always be here when you are ready to return. If you need a referral for an ayurvedic practitioner, vedic counselor, jyotishi, or other forms of support, you can always send me an email sonia@soniakaras.com

“Start in an easy way, and it will take you all the way” -Swami Tattvavidananda

I recommend starting with some short practices to become acquainted with the foundational poses in SRY. This is a new way to move your body, so short but regular practice is ideal to ease your body into the subtle shifts and changes. Do what feels doable.

SRY is at it’s best when you practice regularly- so a 15 minute practice 5 times a week will have more benefit than a 60 minute practice once a week.

Whenever it fits in your day! (*for the most part)

It is important to do any physically demanding exercise or tasks before SRY. You should wait atleast 2 hours after SRY to do anything physically strenuous- when you have opened up and relaxed your spine, it is easier to overdo it and to cause the muscles to “rebound” and re-tighten which can cause muscle spasm or pain. SRY is wonderful after anything strenuous, and helps to balance the effects of anything that is otherwise tightening to the body.

Play around with when you do your SRY practice and you may find a certain time of day works best for you.