When casually standing or sitting, the tendency is to connect passively with the earth. The effect is that the body collapses into itself, each joint compressing as the body slumps and sags. But the moment you consciously root down into whatever is on the floor, the immediate effect is creation of space in the body. Referred to as the “rebounce effect” by Dona Holleman (1999, 26), this relationship between roots and extension is an expression of the “normal force” explained by Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

To the extent that you apply effort through intentional muscular action—for example, pressing down more firmly through your feet and into the floor when standing—the “equal and opposite reaction” of energy drawing up the body occurs. Emphasizing the application of consciousness in the discovery of foundational elements in each asana, yoga teacher Chuck Miller has referred to this as the intention of seeking the origin...