last spring (can you tell by the mountain yogi lack of a tan?) using Asana to re-soften my feet after another season of winter endurance sports. photo by Ananda.
ASANA:
when we perform asana (yogic postures) we are doing more than mere physical exercise; each of Shiva’s 10,000 asanas directly influence our psychic system. remember when you first start taking yoga classes and perhaps were astonished to find yourself in or near tears? this is due to the prana (life force) stimulating the psychic system. for example, in the intuitive asana above, not only am i keeping my feet/ankles/achilles tendon strong and supple, i am also stimulating my liver meridian. instead of spending money and giving my own Inner Healing Power over to an external ‘doctor’ whose own Vibrational Purity is usually damaging to my own cellular/spiritual fitness, yogis use the asanas to become our own doctor. see how compressed my ‘guts’ are as well in the photo? this sends additional prana toward my solar plexus center (manipura chakra) as well as strengthening my organic attachments and origins thus enhancing nutrient assimilation and digestive power (agni). fact is; if you take a Kirlian photograph of yourself before and after doing asana, you will see a tremendous charge of new energy emmanating from your body.
a wise Asana Teacher will guide you through a very balanced and energy-enhancing session. when the student attains Abhyasa (steadfast practice), then the body lifts herself toward a Higher Overall Vibratory State, becoming more radiant, less brittle on the inside and outside, and the frequency of our Vibratory Rate is elevated far above the reach of the common colds and dis-eases of the Non-Practitioner.
we use solo sessions in Hatha Yoga to recognize and control the various aspects of Prana of which there are five major and five minor aspects. i have Taught you these ‘vayus’ in this forum previously. our Pranic Handling Skill eventually leads to a recognition of Shakti Energy which is the vehicle of the Kundalini – the cosmic power which latently lies at the base of the subtle spine (Sushumna). As we get our Shakti groove on, Kundalini begins to get ‘annoyed’, ‘aroused’, and begins to push upward. the Yogi must be very fit and balanced in a Wholistic Manner before the Kundalini starts to rise.
essentially, we use Asana’s as mental and physical stabilization devices to equip our body/mind to be able to appropriately handle the higher dimensional force of enhanced Pranic Constitution and Shakti/Sushumna Engagement. this Subtle Anatomical system of Prana/Shakti is far, far superior than the animalistic system of just muscles and oxygen.
adherence to the Yogic “Commandments” known as the Yama and NiYama must be followed with glee in the aspirants heart before the awakening of Kundalini. without such ethical and personal integrity, the Seeker slips backward on their Journey instead of upward. i have Taught you the Yama and NiYama in this forum previously as well as in TOTAL BODY TRANSFORMATION book.
coming up next: Part Two; Pranayama.
These teachings are the "Rasas" or "sap" of Wholistic Fitness. You’ll find insights to ponder, student chi to keep your own chi topped off, and plenty of proven training techniques to test on your own body, mind, and spirit! Also, you’ll find my very popular Race Reports, and news of our Sangha’s (community’s) latest transpersonal fitness adventures!