Wholistic Fitness

Teacher’s Notes from today’s presentation at the HP Yoga Studio:

CHARMING THE PRINCESS

Exploring Hatha Yoga�s Subtle Anatomy

a presentation by Steve Ilg, RYT/USCF

� 1 �

Like the story of Buddha�s Awakening, the process of Hatha Yoga grounds the highest aim of human life; spiritual realization with practical guidelines of daily living and personal fitness.

Many people think i called HIGH PERFORMANCE YOGA because of my athletic background. That is true, but the primary reason I called it HIGH PERFORMANCE YOGA requires a bit deeper study:

� HIGH = Summit, Topmost, Ultimate, Divine

� PERFORMANCE = action, something accomplished,

the fulfillment of a claim

� YOGA = Union

thus; my style of yoga has been designed to move North Americans toward Divine Fulfillment of the Union between individual Self (Atman) and the Universal Self (Brahman).

�It�s a race, Ilg, so pass somebody.�

Steve’s nordic ski coach, Coach Scotty, circa 1975

We are born into a human race. The goal of our race is Enlightenment. So pass somebody…like your old self that is attached to negative and lazy habits and outdated patterns.

� 2 �

Earliest teachings of yoga: 800 – 500 B.C.E.

– Upanishads:

� true essence of Self (Atman)

is same as UniVerse (Brahman)

� Everyone is subject to Samskara

� Your performance in this lifetime determine

the nature of your rebirth (doctrine of karma).

� Go(o)d deeds and renunciation accumulated

sincerely in this lifetime can reverse heavy karmic workloads (samnyasa; Path of Renunciation).

Earliest techniques always involved the breath:

�The oneness of breath and mind, and likewise of the senses, and the relinquishment of all conditions of existence – this is designated as yoga.�

– Maitrayaninya Upanishad 2nd or 3rd century, B.C.E

� 3 �

Until the Classical Yoga era of Patanjali,

yoga consisted of 6 disciplines designed to yoke Brahman with Atman:

1) pranayama – controlling the breath

2) pratyhara – withdrawing the senses

3) dharana – concentration

4) dhyana – meditation

5) tarka -contemplation

6) samadhi – absorption

by the time of Patanjali�s compilation of yogic science around the second century B.C.E. these elements toward union of Self and Selfless, Seer and the Seen, Purusha (spirit/male) and Prakriti (matter or nature/female) would morph into an 8-limbed (Ashtanga) path of union (yoga):

1) Yamas = 5 guidelines for ethical restraint (ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, aparigraha)

2) Niyamas = 5 personal observations (sauca, santosha, tapas, svadhaya, ishvara pranidhana)

3) Asana = strength/immunity/control of the body

4) Pranayama = control of breath/life force

5) Pratyhara = withdrawal of the senses

6) Dharana = one pointed concentration

7) Dhyana = meditation

8) Samadhi = absorption

� 4 �

Hatha Yoga emerged in the 9th or 10th century

Adepts realized that polarities such as hot vs. cold, male vs. female, happy vs. sad give rise to dis-eases and suffering and delusion.

Hatha Yoga is like the Phys. Ed Dept of yoga which overcomes disease, age, imbalances of body, and disciplined the uncontrolled mind.

Ha = Sun, Right Side of Body, Male, Prana

Tha = Moon, Left Side of Body, Female, Mind

The Immediate Benefits of a Hatha Yogin are:

� Health of body is gained as a by-product of a superior mind.

� Gives rise to and addresses side to side

and kinesthetic imbalances

� Awareness of internal locks

and the power of pranayama.

�The mind cannot be regulated before regulation of the breath. Purification, strength, transcendence.�

� 5 �

The main goals of a Hatha Yogin are:

� Create an absolute balance of the interacting activities and processes of the physical body, mind, and energy.

� Upon attainment of this balance, Awakening occurs to the central force (sushumna nadi) which is responsible for the evolution of human consciousness.

If Hatha Yoga is not used for this purpose, its true objective is lost.

The �Podium� for a Hatha Yogin are:

1) Be able to sit comfortably in Padmasana (Full Lotus) for extended periods of meditation time.

2) Attain harmony of Ida and Pingala (left and right nostril flow)

3) Mergence of Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna Nadi (cause for Kundalini Awakening)

After this Podium has been gained,

the yogin is thus strong enough in body, mind, and spirit to advance into Samyoga (Continuing Ed.!)

{WOULD YOU LIKE COACH ILG TO COME TO DO A HP YOGA WORKSHOP AT YOUR FACILITY? COACH ILG

IS THE ONLY REGISTERED YOGA TEACHER WITH MULTI-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT EXPERIENCE…

HIS UNIQUE GRASP OF ESOTERIC YOGIC PHYSIOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY COMBINED WITH HIS

MASTERY OVER ELITE LEVEL SUFFERING AND ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT PRODUCES A GENUINE AND MOVING

EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR YOGA STUDIO, HEALTH CLUB, OR SPA RESORT!}