DEEPEN YOUR PRACTICE
Week 1
Prana: The Primary Driver
Class Schedule
Mon. Sept. 26 6:00 am Sunrise Yoga at Fallout Yoga Intro to Prana. Surya Namascar
Mon. Sept. 26, 5:50 pm Power 1 at Fallout Yoga Hacking the System with Prana
Fri. Sept 30 10:15 am Restore Your Prana
Fri. Sept. 30 at Power 1 Fallout Yoga Prana Vinyasa Artful Energy Movement
Sat. Oct. 1, Regular Restore class 10:30 am at Fallout Yoga subbed, I'll be at the Fall Colors Yoga Festival
Sat. Oct. 1, 1:30-3:30 pm Restore Yoga for Chronic Illness at Westminster College ($35)
Reading Schedule: The Heart of Yoga by T.K.V. Desikachar
Chapter 1 Yoga Concept and Meaning
Chapter 6 Pranayama
Chapter 7 Bandhas
What is Prana?
Prana is a sanskrit word that means life force energy. Prana is what animates you and everything else in the Universe. It's energy that you can feel, see, and sense and also all the energy that makes more subtle things happen like thought. In fact, in the gradation of our being from gross to subtle, Prana lies one layer more subtle than breath and one degree more gross than thought. Therefore, we can learn to direct our Prana by thinking about our breath moving into a part of our body (or mind or heart). With practice, the feeling of Prana is tangible and can be a profound method of developing healing, power, and presence.
Try this: sit comfortably, close your eyes, and begin ujjayi breath if you know it or just deep breaths. As you breath, visualize your breath as a color moving through your nostrils and down into your right palm then back out your nostrils. Keep your focus on your right palm. Do this for two or three minutes and then notice the difference between your two hands. It could feel like a warmth, a tingle, a lightness, or many other things but this is the feeling of Prana.
The aim in the ancient practice of Tantric philosophy is to expand to the your highest version of Self as quickly as possible. The areas of focus to evolve Self are everything from our yoga, meditation, and spiritual practices, to how we spend our energy on vocation, free time, community and much more. The primary driver for all aspects of growth in the Tantric philosophy is Prana.
Learning to recognize Prana and then how to control it by using breathing techniques, aligning your body through asana, and removing mental prana barriers through meditation, is one of the ways to develop immense power in every aspect of your life. And according to the Tantric philosophy, it is the single greatest method of developing your being to expand into the greatest version of Self as quickly as possible.
Chakras: Prana Convergence Points
picture from http://www.finerminds.com/health-fitness/how-chakras-affect-health
The word Chakra means spinning disk or wheel. Myriad energy practice traditions throughout the world point to subtle body systems of energy.
In yoga, the chakra system is made up of 7 primary chakra points. These seven points are aligned vertically along the spine. To be more specific, the two main Prana channels of masculine/feminine energy, or yin/yang, begin at the base of the spine in the sacrum and cross in a serpentine or double-helix fashion along points of the spine to the top of the skull or above the skull. Each place that these two channels intersect cause an energetic convergence creating a chakra. Think of these points like a spinning top.
Each chakra moves with a different frequency which associates with color, sound, organ function, as well as other physical, emotional, or spiritual needs. Likewise, each chakra might be assigned a mantra or visualization that helps a person to be more aware of that part of their being. It is said that a true yogi is someone whose energy is constant and fluid like a steady stream of a river and free from disruption, excessive flow, or stagnation.
Disturbances in Prana (blocks or energy bleed out) can be caused by things like stress, injury, trauma, illness, blocked emotions, etc. Essentially, in the body/mind/spirit model, anything that happens to one part of your being can effect all other parts. Therefore, understanding and becoming aware of how Prana affects your chakras not only helps you understand yourself on a deeper level, but for those who connect to Prana readily, can also be a very effective tool for vitality practice and healing. Chakra practice is also a wonderful way of practicing Awareness.
Explore Prana through Pranayama (breathwork)
Here are some breathing practices to help direct Prana for many reasons including reduce stress.
Stream Recording
Explore Prana through Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra is a deep form of self-discovery, like meditation, where you experience your utmost nature of being. It's a very relaxing way of attuning your awareness to all things. You can practice Yoga Nidra anywhere while doing anything, however we will practice by lying down and listening to me guide you through the experience via audio recording that you can stream or download onto your computer of phone.
Yoga Nidra is an ancient practice that has helped many people (including Ghandi) to do everything from becoming high-performing athletes, learn languages, heal from physical, mental and emotional trauma, attain enlightenment. It is a highly effective method of Sourcing Your True Power, untold power within you. One result of practicing Yoga Nidra is that it can help you understand what YOUR gifts are in this world and how to share them. Yoga Nidra is experiencing the TRUEST form of YOURSELF. Most poignantly, Yoga Nidra is about connecting to Source and therefore your ultimate power.
Like I said, this practice is about connecting you to your source. When you have such a connection, you can do anything. Through practicing Yoga Nidra, you will:
Recognize and SOURCE YOUR POWER to accomplish anything you desire.
Recognize and eliminate self-limiting beliefs
Experience profound relaxation
Reduce anxiety
Heal from physical, emotional, or mental trauma
Grow spiritually as you understand yourself and your place in the Universe
Understand your innate gifts for this world and how to share them with the world
Connect with and become conscious of your deep inner-wisdom
Become mentally sharper and more focused
Become more tolerant and compassionate for those around you
Become more tolerated by those around you!
Become a better family member, better at your job, and better community member
and much more . . .
This practice is designed to help us become more aware by experiencing and listening to our prana through the chakras.
This Yoga Nidra practice is designed to help you become more aware by feeling your chakras and practice the associations, sounds, colors, mantras, and visualization associated with each chakra. This practice is also designed to help you become very relaxed.
Enjoy!
Stream recording
Check out this cool video from artist, Alex Grey