Day seven of discovering yogic anatomy at the Krishnamachrya Yoga Mandiram and we are cotinuing to delve into key ayurvedic and yogic concepts:
Tejas - Metabolism
Ojas - Life
Prana - Vitality
To live a normal, healthy life we need a balance of all dimensions:
Body: Vata, Pitta and kapha
Function: Dhata - agni - mala (process of metabolism)
Mind: Sattwa (dominant), Rajas and Tamas
Essential: subtle, deep energies
Ojas: The last product of the metabolic process from 7 dhatus, it is vitality a manifestation of the prana. Located in the heart 8 drops of this precious liquid. Associated with the immune system, strength and survival instinct. Also linked to generation of human beings, it is what the mother transfers to the feutus in the 8th month of pregnancy. In ayurvedic philosophy it is after this point that the baby can survive on there own. Yogic practises preserve and harness the Ojas energy and can be used to spiritual growth. It can easily be depleted. To increase Ojas mothers milk (now proved by modern science thousands years later), ghee (clarified butter) and yoga /mantra. Also relates to seminal fluid and sexual energy which can be channeled through tantra for the spiritual path.
Tejas: Relates to subtle fire, a glow. Samana jayut jamala - when we master samana we glow (see day 4 YS). When digestive fire is working properly then glowing complexition, hair, eyes, subtle changes to appearance which happens within. Needs to be balanced, when working at optimum the metabolism of food happens most effectively so there is no uncooked food remaining (waste/toxins). However extremeley strong tejas sapts the ojas.
Prana: Most subtle energy, life force which is responsible for the whole system. Without prana there is no life none of the other levels of manifestion would exist.
The point of being born as a human and trying to prolong our life through the path of yoga and slowing down the breath is to further our spiritual path. Health, a deep peace calm, Svastha is only possible when the manifestation of all the systems and levels is balanced and functioning properly.
Prana - Root of word is AN - to move
Prakarsena anati gachhati (definition of prana)
Prana moves in a special way, all over and freely, it is essential for life the vital force. Prana fundamentally comes into the body through the breath, food and liquids we take in. Prana associated to being the breath of the purusa and cosmic conscious. Prana exists in any being we consider to be alive, it is prana that is quality of being alive. Prana is the friend of the consciousness, with prana the consciousness enters the system and likewise when it leaves so does the conscious.
Where does it come from?
According to the Purusa Suktam - this cosmic being which precends everything. Metaphorically this is visualised as a extremely large being, Prana (whole on macro level) which manifests as Vayu (air, vital for creation) and then Prana (micro level, vital air). This is also related to Vatta.
In the Prasna Upanisad another text which explores the creation of the universe.
Universe / there is a change on a cosmic level: Rayi (matter) and Prana (energy)
It is the entry of prana (energy, consciousness) which makes Rayi alive and therefore all living creatures are Prani as they hold prana. At time of death no longer hold prana so is termed as aprani. There is no human will or effort which causes prana to enter the human body.
What is the role of prana on the human system?
As long there is prana in the body there is life. When there is disconnection between the body and prana you are dead; Sariva Prana Viyogam.
On another level prana connected to the consciousness, it is the means by which the consciousness makes its presense felt in the body and creates awareness in humans. In this context it is know as Atma (conscious) Sakha (friend). Prana can be symbolic of the rays of the sun.
Prana is divided into different energies for different functions in the human body/system. There are 5 panca prana and then 5 subsidary prana's upa prana, meaning 10 in total.
Everything around us also has prana, we are taking it from all around food, air, people, creatures etc..
Prana is the most important, followed by apana which is fundamental. Yogic prcatises work on link between prana and apana.
Apana divides into subfunctions relating to pregnancy:
Prajapatya (responsible for holding the feutus inside the mothers womb, if this does not function correctly it is responsible for miscarriage)
Sutika (responsible for delivery of baby)
5 subsidary Upa pranas (protective mechanism):
naga - function of belching
kurma - blinking of the eyes
kirkasa - sneezing
devadatta - yawning
dhanajaya - health / temperature of body. leaves body 3hrs after death
This is prana at the level of the human system and how it manifests 1 how it holds life and 2 conscience. When prana is functioning properly all other functions can work well. when there is an impairment in the flow to a specific place, there will be a production of toxins and create a blockage in this place which will then create disfunction / disease so it is a downward spiral. Yoga aims to keep the flow of prana correctly at premium.
Why it is important is yoga, how it flows I will detail in forthcoming post.
This is the reason we are doing the asana practise, with breath, working with the prana in the system and bringing out the impurities.
What is the correct method of breathing:
Inhale open up the chest, prana inwards, through the nostrils passing through chest then evntually into the stomach seat of apana and responsible for elimination. Meeting of prana and apana.
In Bhagavad GIta Ch IV 28
Ritual of bringing prana towards apana, the way one should breathe.
Exhale from the abdomen, chest relaxes and apana goes towards the fire and burns the impurities.
How different asana postures work on the different Vayus:
Purvatana - works on vitalising the prana (heart). Also element of apana, udana. Focus more on inhalation
Parivritti - Samana, equalising the breath and working on the naval, twist
Pascimatana - Apana region, elimination, focus more on exhalation to facilitate movement
Viparita /inversions - meeting udana and apana
Parsva - Samana,
Pranayama (Prana = life force, ayama = extension, the stretch of the life force, can increase length of lifespan)
Classic example that is given in nature is the turtoise. Easily live 100 - 150 years, they only breath 2 -3 breaths per minute that is the reason for their longivity, their prana is kept inside. On average humans breathe 15 per minute but we can slow this down through the yoga practise and extend our life expectancy.
Pranayama - best posture is spine straight, sitting firmly on ground so the base is stable like a strong foundation.
Ideally siddhasana as stated in Hatha Pradipika with heel in the perinuem and then the other foot directly on top, most vertical and balanced posture. There is a wider and stronger base and it is a good position for the application of the bandhas. Also recommended postures are:
Padmasana
Bramesana - which is a wide, half padmasana
Modifications can be to sit on a chair with spine erect, many people find it difficult to sit on earth nowadays but it is powerful with the rooting and magnetism that comes directly from the Earth.
Interpretation of the Yogic Texts
Pranayama - all pervading quality of prana, why do we do pranayama if prana is in the unconscious breath? The whole idea of pranayama is to keep the prana in the body space for extended period of time to be equally distributed and so the functions of the body are maintained.
There are different ways of doing pranayama in the yoga sutras which :
Desa - place, where the breath originates eg Ujjayi, throat, Nadi shodhana - nostrils. It also relates to space.
Kala - time, duration, extension - relates to change
Samkhya - number, limits within your body and mental framework, your capacity, classic ratio
Pranayama leads you to transcend space and time
Change creates space and enables growth.
The unconscious breath changes/adapts to your state of mind.
Prana / Apana
Nabi cakre (naval plexus, behind the naval, inline with the mehru danda which is centre of the body sushumna nadi, by cakre it means an area rather than the manipura chakra itself which is located below this area, all the 72,000 nadis originate from this point. It is important point for showing health of the body, if there are any deviations from its position it demonstrates there is a problem. When you are examining a person and identifying the nabhi and whether it is deviated from its central axis it communicates about the whole. Naval is the centre of gravity for the body. That is why in Ayurveda it says to work on Apana area as it links to all other factors in the body). It is vital ife importance as where the mother attaches to the baby, all digestive system loacted here. That which balances the entire system of the human structure through the nadis which all originate here. It chinese medicine, martial arts it is central to life force.
Most of the functions of the body are from the naval downwards (elimination). You should always keep your naval at the centre of gravity. if your mulhadhara and manipura are activated and energy flowing correctly only then can the energy be directed inwards and up into sushumna. When you meditate on these chakras need to know how to insure that can direct the prana upwards,. Instead we should meditate on the heart as it is at the centre and then energy can go upwards, tpwards lightness and clarity. If we meditate on lower chakras without higher it sinks in apana and takes us downwards, tamasic takes over. The consciousness lies next to the Nabhi, jivam.
When your health is in good shape even the nadis change in size, so keeping the nabhi area very healthy is important. Every emotional disturbance comes from naval centre; for example when you feel anxious, when you are in love and have butterflies in your stomach. We should listen and connect to our naval, our gut instinct. In ayurveda everything you eliminate are examined as it tells you if your body is balanced. What comes out is as important as what you give out. When you focus on the area of the nabhi chakra you understand the whole body.
Kaustub Desilackar advised don't inhale too much need to exhale, let go, share absorb knowledge through digesting and experience rather than merely taking in more and more information.
Yoga Anatomy Therapeutic Applications - Addressing Dosha Imbalances
VATA -joints/arthritus
Give movements in capacity in all posible directions
Vinyasas in a gradual manner eg building up to straightening the legs
Support the knees with cushions
Use the wall to support with hands and raise up onto tip toes and down
Parvottanasa - with gently bent knees then starting to extend leg in slow stages
setu bandha savangasana - gently, building up
Reclined twist keeping feet on earth and gently apart when twist to one side and release knees to earth
Paschimottanasana - keep the knees gently bent
Breathing work on hold/retention after exhale
Obesity
Two types (apple and pear), apple is more problematic as the weight is stored around the stomach and relates to diabetes and cardiac problems. First lifestyle changes walking, taking stairs not lift and moderation in diet. Then asanas include standing forward bends (uttanasana) and twists. Staying for a longer time in postures and holding/retaining the hold or doing the posture on the exhale hold /on empty - anagalagaram. This technique activates the digestion and creates feeling of lightness. Also recommend Navasana (can be supported with hands on earth behind seat or knees bent, or one leg at a time) and leg raises on your back, gradually lifting and lowering. If they have lower back pack then start in apasana and then gradually straighten legs and release down to apasana. Supta badkonasana / reclined hip opener. Halasana (with support of chair if its too much, although may feel like choking under weight so check what feels comfortable), Utkatasana, bridge raising one leg at a time.
Staying in postures for a few breaths, then introduce exhale hold (atleast 3 seconds) and go into posture on retention.
Surya Namaskar sequence and jumping throughs increase vitality and reduce fat. Do transitions on postures on the exhale retention eg uttanasana to chaturanga, and jumping from adho mukha svanasana to uttanasana on the hold
Arm balances to build core strength
Pranayama - kapalabhati, bastrika
sound and mantra - which suck in at the naval, hriem, rum using with surya namaskar
Need to work on digestion, assimilation and elimination.
Reduction of sweets, fried food, diary foods etc
Balancing the Doshas through Diet
There are 6 tastes in ayurveda which relate to the dosas and they should be in all meals (up means it increases / down decreases) :
Sweet - Kapha (up), Vata & Pitta (down)
Salt - Kapha & Pitta (up), Vata (down)
Sour - Kapha Pitta (up) Vata (down)
Pungent - Pitta Vata (up) Kapha (down) - chilli, spice
Bitter - Vata (Up) Kapha, Pitta (down)
Astringent - Vata (up) Kapha Pitta (down) - tea, honey
Meditation on Swadisthana
Swa = myself disthana = established, and hence this chakra relates to confidence
Om = connecting to something that is beyond
We used the Bihar mantra for swadisthana Vam for meditation on the cakra centre. When you chant the Bihar mantras it is calling the cakras name and knocking on the door for it to open and activate. That is why it is effective to do this alongside visualing the coloured lotus flower of the cakra opening. Chanting Namahah is not mine but yours, I am offering everything to you, you are inviting the force to become dominant and take over you. Chanting Namaha we are beyond us, we are allowing space for the force to take over.
The diety for Swadisthana is Krishna and the water relates to the Ganges, it enhances meditation on this cakra to be by water such as a waterfall. Working on Swadisthana is important for the Ojas to function.
Tejas - Metabolism
Ojas - Life
Prana - Vitality
To live a normal, healthy life we need a balance of all dimensions:
Body: Vata, Pitta and kapha
Function: Dhata - agni - mala (process of metabolism)
Mind: Sattwa (dominant), Rajas and Tamas
Essential: subtle, deep energies
Ojas: The last product of the metabolic process from 7 dhatus, it is vitality a manifestation of the prana. Located in the heart 8 drops of this precious liquid. Associated with the immune system, strength and survival instinct. Also linked to generation of human beings, it is what the mother transfers to the feutus in the 8th month of pregnancy. In ayurvedic philosophy it is after this point that the baby can survive on there own. Yogic practises preserve and harness the Ojas energy and can be used to spiritual growth. It can easily be depleted. To increase Ojas mothers milk (now proved by modern science thousands years later), ghee (clarified butter) and yoga /mantra. Also relates to seminal fluid and sexual energy which can be channeled through tantra for the spiritual path.
Tejas: Relates to subtle fire, a glow. Samana jayut jamala - when we master samana we glow (see day 4 YS). When digestive fire is working properly then glowing complexition, hair, eyes, subtle changes to appearance which happens within. Needs to be balanced, when working at optimum the metabolism of food happens most effectively so there is no uncooked food remaining (waste/toxins). However extremeley strong tejas sapts the ojas.
Prana: Most subtle energy, life force which is responsible for the whole system. Without prana there is no life none of the other levels of manifestion would exist.
The point of being born as a human and trying to prolong our life through the path of yoga and slowing down the breath is to further our spiritual path. Health, a deep peace calm, Svastha is only possible when the manifestation of all the systems and levels is balanced and functioning properly.
Prana - Root of word is AN - to move
Prakarsena anati gachhati (definition of prana)
Prana moves in a special way, all over and freely, it is essential for life the vital force. Prana fundamentally comes into the body through the breath, food and liquids we take in. Prana associated to being the breath of the purusa and cosmic conscious. Prana exists in any being we consider to be alive, it is prana that is quality of being alive. Prana is the friend of the consciousness, with prana the consciousness enters the system and likewise when it leaves so does the conscious.
Where does it come from?
According to the Purusa Suktam - this cosmic being which precends everything. Metaphorically this is visualised as a extremely large being, Prana (whole on macro level) which manifests as Vayu (air, vital for creation) and then Prana (micro level, vital air). This is also related to Vatta.
In the Prasna Upanisad another text which explores the creation of the universe.
Universe / there is a change on a cosmic level: Rayi (matter) and Prana (energy)
It is the entry of prana (energy, consciousness) which makes Rayi alive and therefore all living creatures are Prani as they hold prana. At time of death no longer hold prana so is termed as aprani. There is no human will or effort which causes prana to enter the human body.
What is the role of prana on the human system?
As long there is prana in the body there is life. When there is disconnection between the body and prana you are dead; Sariva Prana Viyogam.
On another level prana connected to the consciousness, it is the means by which the consciousness makes its presense felt in the body and creates awareness in humans. In this context it is know as Atma (conscious) Sakha (friend). Prana can be symbolic of the rays of the sun.
Prana is divided into different energies for different functions in the human body/system. There are 5 panca prana and then 5 subsidary prana's upa prana, meaning 10 in total.
Everything around us also has prana, we are taking it from all around food, air, people, creatures etc..
Prana is the most important, followed by apana which is fundamental. Yogic prcatises work on link between prana and apana.
Apana divides into subfunctions relating to pregnancy:
Prajapatya (responsible for holding the feutus inside the mothers womb, if this does not function correctly it is responsible for miscarriage)
Sutika (responsible for delivery of baby)
5 subsidary Upa pranas (protective mechanism):
naga - function of belching
kurma - blinking of the eyes
kirkasa - sneezing
devadatta - yawning
dhanajaya - health / temperature of body. leaves body 3hrs after death
This is prana at the level of the human system and how it manifests 1 how it holds life and 2 conscience. When prana is functioning properly all other functions can work well. when there is an impairment in the flow to a specific place, there will be a production of toxins and create a blockage in this place which will then create disfunction / disease so it is a downward spiral. Yoga aims to keep the flow of prana correctly at premium.
Why it is important is yoga, how it flows I will detail in forthcoming post.
This is the reason we are doing the asana practise, with breath, working with the prana in the system and bringing out the impurities.
What is the correct method of breathing:
Inhale open up the chest, prana inwards, through the nostrils passing through chest then evntually into the stomach seat of apana and responsible for elimination. Meeting of prana and apana.
In Bhagavad GIta Ch IV 28
Ritual of bringing prana towards apana, the way one should breathe.
Exhale from the abdomen, chest relaxes and apana goes towards the fire and burns the impurities.
How different asana postures work on the different Vayus:
Purvatana - works on vitalising the prana (heart). Also element of apana, udana. Focus more on inhalation
Parivritti - Samana, equalising the breath and working on the naval, twist
Pascimatana - Apana region, elimination, focus more on exhalation to facilitate movement
Viparita /inversions - meeting udana and apana
Parsva - Samana,
Pranayama (Prana = life force, ayama = extension, the stretch of the life force, can increase length of lifespan)
Classic example that is given in nature is the turtoise. Easily live 100 - 150 years, they only breath 2 -3 breaths per minute that is the reason for their longivity, their prana is kept inside. On average humans breathe 15 per minute but we can slow this down through the yoga practise and extend our life expectancy.
Pranayama - best posture is spine straight, sitting firmly on ground so the base is stable like a strong foundation.
Ideally siddhasana as stated in Hatha Pradipika with heel in the perinuem and then the other foot directly on top, most vertical and balanced posture. There is a wider and stronger base and it is a good position for the application of the bandhas. Also recommended postures are:
Padmasana
Bramesana - which is a wide, half padmasana
Modifications can be to sit on a chair with spine erect, many people find it difficult to sit on earth nowadays but it is powerful with the rooting and magnetism that comes directly from the Earth.
Interpretation of the Yogic Texts
Pranayama - all pervading quality of prana, why do we do pranayama if prana is in the unconscious breath? The whole idea of pranayama is to keep the prana in the body space for extended period of time to be equally distributed and so the functions of the body are maintained.
There are different ways of doing pranayama in the yoga sutras which :
Desa - place, where the breath originates eg Ujjayi, throat, Nadi shodhana - nostrils. It also relates to space.
Kala - time, duration, extension - relates to change
Samkhya - number, limits within your body and mental framework, your capacity, classic ratio
Pranayama leads you to transcend space and time
Change creates space and enables growth.
The unconscious breath changes/adapts to your state of mind.
Prana / Apana
Nabi cakre (naval plexus, behind the naval, inline with the mehru danda which is centre of the body sushumna nadi, by cakre it means an area rather than the manipura chakra itself which is located below this area, all the 72,000 nadis originate from this point. It is important point for showing health of the body, if there are any deviations from its position it demonstrates there is a problem. When you are examining a person and identifying the nabhi and whether it is deviated from its central axis it communicates about the whole. Naval is the centre of gravity for the body. That is why in Ayurveda it says to work on Apana area as it links to all other factors in the body). It is vital ife importance as where the mother attaches to the baby, all digestive system loacted here. That which balances the entire system of the human structure through the nadis which all originate here. It chinese medicine, martial arts it is central to life force.
Most of the functions of the body are from the naval downwards (elimination). You should always keep your naval at the centre of gravity. if your mulhadhara and manipura are activated and energy flowing correctly only then can the energy be directed inwards and up into sushumna. When you meditate on these chakras need to know how to insure that can direct the prana upwards,. Instead we should meditate on the heart as it is at the centre and then energy can go upwards, tpwards lightness and clarity. If we meditate on lower chakras without higher it sinks in apana and takes us downwards, tamasic takes over. The consciousness lies next to the Nabhi, jivam.
When your health is in good shape even the nadis change in size, so keeping the nabhi area very healthy is important. Every emotional disturbance comes from naval centre; for example when you feel anxious, when you are in love and have butterflies in your stomach. We should listen and connect to our naval, our gut instinct. In ayurveda everything you eliminate are examined as it tells you if your body is balanced. What comes out is as important as what you give out. When you focus on the area of the nabhi chakra you understand the whole body.
Kaustub Desilackar advised don't inhale too much need to exhale, let go, share absorb knowledge through digesting and experience rather than merely taking in more and more information.
Yoga Anatomy Therapeutic Applications - Addressing Dosha Imbalances
VATA -joints/arthritus
Give movements in capacity in all posible directions
Vinyasas in a gradual manner eg building up to straightening the legs
Support the knees with cushions
Use the wall to support with hands and raise up onto tip toes and down
Parvottanasa - with gently bent knees then starting to extend leg in slow stages
setu bandha savangasana - gently, building up
Reclined twist keeping feet on earth and gently apart when twist to one side and release knees to earth
Paschimottanasana - keep the knees gently bent
Breathing work on hold/retention after exhale
Obesity
Two types (apple and pear), apple is more problematic as the weight is stored around the stomach and relates to diabetes and cardiac problems. First lifestyle changes walking, taking stairs not lift and moderation in diet. Then asanas include standing forward bends (uttanasana) and twists. Staying for a longer time in postures and holding/retaining the hold or doing the posture on the exhale hold /on empty - anagalagaram. This technique activates the digestion and creates feeling of lightness. Also recommend Navasana (can be supported with hands on earth behind seat or knees bent, or one leg at a time) and leg raises on your back, gradually lifting and lowering. If they have lower back pack then start in apasana and then gradually straighten legs and release down to apasana. Supta badkonasana / reclined hip opener. Halasana (with support of chair if its too much, although may feel like choking under weight so check what feels comfortable), Utkatasana, bridge raising one leg at a time.
Staying in postures for a few breaths, then introduce exhale hold (atleast 3 seconds) and go into posture on retention.
Surya Namaskar sequence and jumping throughs increase vitality and reduce fat. Do transitions on postures on the exhale retention eg uttanasana to chaturanga, and jumping from adho mukha svanasana to uttanasana on the hold
Arm balances to build core strength
Pranayama - kapalabhati, bastrika
sound and mantra - which suck in at the naval, hriem, rum using with surya namaskar
Need to work on digestion, assimilation and elimination.
Reduction of sweets, fried food, diary foods etc
Balancing the Doshas through Diet
There are 6 tastes in ayurveda which relate to the dosas and they should be in all meals (up means it increases / down decreases) :
Sweet - Kapha (up), Vata & Pitta (down)
Salt - Kapha & Pitta (up), Vata (down)
Sour - Kapha Pitta (up) Vata (down)
Pungent - Pitta Vata (up) Kapha (down) - chilli, spice
Bitter - Vata (Up) Kapha, Pitta (down)
Astringent - Vata (up) Kapha Pitta (down) - tea, honey
Meditation on Swadisthana
Swa = myself disthana = established, and hence this chakra relates to confidence
Om = connecting to something that is beyond
We used the Bihar mantra for swadisthana Vam for meditation on the cakra centre. When you chant the Bihar mantras it is calling the cakras name and knocking on the door for it to open and activate. That is why it is effective to do this alongside visualing the coloured lotus flower of the cakra opening. Chanting Namahah is not mine but yours, I am offering everything to you, you are inviting the force to become dominant and take over you. Chanting Namaha we are beyond us, we are allowing space for the force to take over.
The diety for Swadisthana is Krishna and the water relates to the Ganges, it enhances meditation on this cakra to be by water such as a waterfall. Working on Swadisthana is important for the Ojas to function.
No comments:
Post a Comment