Orientation to Yoga s Subtle Energies & the Bandhas. alex Levin In-Depth YTT January 2016

Transcription

1 Orientation to Yoga s Subtle Energies & the Bandhas alex Levin In-Depth YTT January 2016

2 Maps of our Inner Landscape Different kinds of maps represent same subject, but present different information. Yoga offers a variety of maps, overlays, that help us chart our experience, and orient ourselves in service of living most authentically, most fully. Yoga also provides instructions and tools to help us recognize our unique experience of landmarks and navigate our course on the way. Our attention skills are honed and we become more familiar with ubiquitous awareness.

3 the 5 koshas: dimensions of our being Annamaya physical body made up of food we eat purified by diet, asanas, kriya (cleansing) practices Pranamaya sheath made of energy or vitality purified by breathing practices and kriya Manomaya mind, perceptual, emotional sheath purified by service, bhakti, chanting, yama and niyama practices Vijnanamaya wisdom, discernment, character sheath purified by being in satsang (the company of truth), svadhyaya, meditation Anandamaya bliss sheath purified by joy, samadhi Prana - the life force - flows, that is its nature. We also have the ability to act and direct its course. Our choices at all of these dimensions influence freedom or obstruction of the flow. Bringing conscious attention to our experiences helps us be aware of the choices we are making. Sometimes, often, we choose to protect and defend against pain and other unwanted states. The mind takes on the role of protecting the heart and can create barriers to prana flowing freely among all aspects of our being. The mind cannot unravel itself and yoga s tools offer a way to go around the mind s controls and unravel our tensions.

4 prana flows where attention goes In general, and without our intentional attention, prana and our attention tend to flow outward more than inward.

5 practices we played with uddiyana bandha (gross play) from standing according to BKS Iyengar instructions in Light on Pranayama mula bandha (gross play) reclining with knees bent, squeezing and releasing uro-genital opening in anterior pelvic tilt (vajroli mudra) anal opening (ashwini mudra) in posterior pelvic tilt [lift upward] the perineum between these two in neutral pelvis jalandhara, uddiyana & mula bandha (more subtle, letting body position and breath assist) in tadaka mudra (like reclining in tadasana with arms overhead): after each inhale draw chin toward chest, keeping head on the floor add watching belly draw toward spine and up toward back of head on exhales natural flow, then actively accentuate notice action of the belly pulling up pelvic floor jalandhara, uddiyana & mula bandha (much more subtly) reclining, knees bent, comfortably - relax at each bandha area, sensing flow and movement

6 the nadis little rivers : channels of energy said that there are 72,000 pranayama is a key tool to clearing the nadis

7 the three main nadis ida & pingala - opposing forces; pingala masculine, heating, sympathetic nervous system; ida - feminine, cooling, parasympathetic nervous system intersect at each chakra (energy centers) Sushumna central channel Ida & Pingala left & right channels sushumna - the main channel; the yogi s task is to bring attention and energies to this center for equipoise, equanimity channels are cleared by asana, pranayama, visualization, chant, visualizations (e.g., nadi shodhana) The Hatha Yoga Pradipika is a classic text that describes many of these practices. Ha meaning sun, tha moon, hatha indicates these forces coexisting. That union confers incredible force and so sometimes hatha translates as forceful.

8 Kundalini Pure potential (in dormant state) Powerful energy of transformation becomes available when obstacles in the nadis and chakras are cleared for awakening Symbolized by serpent at root chakra coiled 3 1/2 times (see serpent in diagram on previous page) Sometimes referred to as Kundalini Shakti - the feminine force of creation, complementing Shiva s energy of conscious awareness

9 the bandhas bandha - lock ; from root bandh meaning to bind, fix or stop The bandhas regulate pranic flow. mula bandha - root lock at pelvic floor uddiyana bandha - flying up or upper abdominal lock jalandhara bandha - chin lock, cloud-catching or net lock (network of nadis in the neck) maha bandha - combination of the above three locks brahma bandha - fixing one s consciousness on the all-pervading Source What instructions have you heard for practicing the bandhas?

10 vayus: prana in the body* prana vayu moves from the diaphragm to the base of the throat. It is seated in the heart and regulates breathing, heart rate, circulation and speech. apana vayu flows downward from the navel to the feet. It controls urination, defecation, giving birth, menstrual flow, ejaculation, and creative work. samana vayu occupies the space from the navel to the diaphragm. it flows back and forth like a pendulum there, regulating digestion and assimilation and balancing the prana and apana vayus. udana vayu flows from the base of the throat to the top of the head. It regulates expression and locomotion (and includes coughing, choking, hiccuping, and swallowing). vyana vayu flows in all directions, carrying prana to each cell of the body. * adapted from Jivamukti Yoga: Practices for Liberating the Body and Soul by Sharon Gannon & David Life

11 the knots that bind: grants granthis = knot or doubt experienced as tensions, stress, blockages Brahma granthis between root and second chakras - low belly region Vishnu granthis between third chakra and the heart - upper belly, diaphragm muscle region Rudra granthis between heart and third eye - throat and mouth region Practicing the bandhas, harnessing and concentrating the vayus, is said to melt these knots.

12 Resources Energy Medicine, Donna Eden The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy, Cindi Dale Light on Yoga and Light on Pranayama, BKS Iyengar Eastern Body, Western Mind, Anodea Judith Untethered Soul, Michael Singer (chapter 5, Infinite Energy ) Jivamukti Yoga: Practices for Liberating the Body and Soul, Sharon Gannon & David Life