HOW YOGA WORKS...#2

HOW YOGA WORKS... #2

One of the most important things to keep in mind while doing yoga asanas/postures, is that it is how we do them that matters.  If our minds are focused solely on achieving an outward image of the pose, then we can greatly injure ourselves and in essence are acting contrary to the goal of yoga.  However, if we focus on naturally holding the pose in a relaxed way, then we can do the real yoga of working with breath, working with prana (subtle energy currents)!

Yoga asanas first and foremost is about movement and balancing of prana, of life energy within the physical body that can stagnate, shut down, or become intensely imbalanced causing not only physical disturbances in the body but, psychological disturbance as well.  So if our attention is on our inner experience while in a pose, if our attention can become fine tuned on the breath, then  we can begin to cultivate a more subtle awareness of our own inner flow of prana.  Think of prana as that very essence, unquantifiable essence that allows a seed to sprout & become a fruit bearing plant or immense tree, it is the life energy responsible for growth, change, evolution... Aside from what we ingest,  prana is most significantly in the breath and the more quality breath equals a better flow of prana.  Therefore it can be said that if you are not paying attention and improving your breath, your breathing pattern while in a pose, essentially you are not doing yoga, you are simply doing an exercise.  

1-Breath is the vehicle for prana 

(the life energy within us that governs all body systems)

2-Asanas direct the flow of prana

3-Growing awareness and mastery of the subtle flow of energy

 within our body/mind complex

 is YOGA

In this way, an individual receives the most from asanas if done as a personal practice or in a more intimate environment w/ their yoga teacher so as to receive proper instruction.   Not all yogic techniques are for everyone,  not all asanas are for everyone and not all styles or ways asanas are performed are for everyone either.  Keep in mind that these very large "yoga classes" are how we in the West have adapted Yoga from the East.  They have been adapted to western culture as part of physical fitness which greatly underscores the portent value of the bigger picture that is Yoga!  Let me explain:

For example, the sister science to YOGA is called AYURVEDA.  The basic understanding is that those people who are too on the go...on the go...whose minds are constantly racing and who find it difficult to clear their thoughts...who therefore may suffer from insomnia, digestive issues etc... these people need more cooling asanas, ones that calm and bring them to states of rest.  In ayurveda, they have the dosha imbalance of "Pitta".  These people would benefit from a practice that focuses on lots of forward folds for example.  Those people who are very slow to move, feel heavy or low energy and therefore may suffer from bouts of depression and/or lethargy...who probably may be overweight & have low self-esteem, these people need more active asanas, ones that activate & heat up their systems as they need to get prana really moving!  They have the dosha imbalance of "Kapha".  A third type are those who are easily distracted, quick to change their minds, seem a little unstable...those who find it difficult to gain weight perhaps, are wiry, who have a hard time focusing and following through on tasks...who therefore suffer perhaps from anxiety or panic attacks.  They have the dosha imbalance of "Vata".  These people would benefit from a well rounded practice in just the right sequence of activating to calming to balancing & restoring poses to ground them.  Yes we all have these traits as they are the primary birth patterns of being human however, because of our lifestyle, what we've been exposed to, how we've used our minds, what we eat, how we've treated our bodies, we normally show a tendency toward one more often then the others.  So Yoga Asanas in light of Ayurveda is meant to also bring us back into balance.  Whatever type we show in excess, we want to bring that down, we want to do the opposite so as to balance the imbalance.  

As we talked about in the first newsletter on how yoga works, remember it is about balancing the energies within us through physical postures and most significantly through the breath that we truly come to more harmonious states of health and well-being!  We are bodies of energy and yoga has always been about understanding the flow of energy within us and how to control it through yogic techniques so that a central energy or consciousness can arise and transcend the physical!

HATARAJ YOGA STUDIO

Prema Devii "Trish" is a registered yoga therapist with 500 training hours.  Her studio is located in Santa Rosa on Mendocino.  She goes to her clients home or they come to her studio here where individualized assessments, instruction, & adjustments can be given in a way that not only honors the traditional practice and intentions of yoga as an ancient science of mind/body/& spirit, but also honors the individuality of each persons unique character, build, & lifestyle.  She is also trained in Thai Yoga Posturing/Massage, holds regular workshops in diet, nutrition, & vibrant health, and by nature of this healing work, utilizes all these things to help each person reach their highest potentials in regards to health, healing, fitness, & conscious development.

HOLIDAY OFFERINGS:

3 Yoga Therapy Sessions

$216

2 hrs each session:

-initial phone consultation

-ayurvedic doshic assessment

-personalized sequence of asanas/postures for your dosha
-full 1hr 15min asana class to practice your sequence

-prescribed pranayama/breath technique

-half hour Thai Yoga Posturing/Massage

-recommendations for diet/nutrition/supplements 

(herbs, vitamins, minerals etc.)

Call: Prema Devii 

(E-RYT 200, RYT 500, M.A. Education,

Thai Yoga Posturer)

808-269-2638

premayoga7@gmail.com