Wholistic Fitness

MASTER STUDENT EXCHANGE: KUMBHAKA SEDUCTION

i facilitate Master Student Abu’s pranayamic insights

{Notice to the conventionally trained: this stuff is not a Barbell Curl exercise description; DO NOT ATTEMPT without guidance by a pranayamic teacher! – Coach Ilg

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ABU:

I�m definitely not certain that it is not just a shift in Awareness � it very

well could be. The only reason that I suggested the above is that the chatter

seemed to coincide with a slight decrease in the mechanical fluidity of the

morning Pranayama session. The mental chatter seems to be decreasing. My

session this morning had the feel of a deep, calm (kiddie) pool during the

retention periods.

ILG:

Do not be too seduced by kumbhaka.

the very word means ‘potlike’ and kumbhaka is the most direct means of shifting

consciousness…thus, body (the pot) consciousness and mental consciousness

begin to intermingle, embrace, dance…

it can all get quite in-toxic-ating.

yet, i need you to focus on the real Yoga which during your pranayams must be the

continuing advancement of ekagrata (one-pointedness).

since the depth of your pranayam fitness is increasing, as you ‘step back out’

toward logical mind, the mental chattering sounds cacaphonous.

ABU:

Also, the sword of intellectual insight seems to have a new sharper

�edge�. On a strictly intellectual (puzzle-solving) level, my agility seems to have increased significantly at work.

Many things come easy or seem obvious during brainstorming sessions. I�ve had to throttle my input to others in order to

give them �thinking space�. I�ve even sensed that some long-term coworkers

have been a bit intimidated lately. I�m working to compassionately contribute

to our efforts.

ILG:

You are gaining Jnanasiddhi, intellectual powers gained through your yogic practices. they will continue. be prepared and live the

Yamas and NiYamas. update me with your svadhyaya regarding the Yama’s and Niyamas?

ABU:

I know that this goes against my namesake, so I am noting it for you. I�m not sure

what has happened. I TAF that it may be a stirring of apana while I work to

burn through the crap. (Really interesting � in my journal, there was a

correlation between metal chatter and elimination efficiency. When the mental chatter

was loudest, my morning elimination was most difficult and vice versa.)

ILG:

when you say “difficult” you mean “clogged” (passive)?

ABU:

Yes, �clogged� is a very descriptive word for what I felt. My elimination

efficiency has been consistently good (unclogged) recently.

ILG:

yes. i see. now, i want to hear about your weekend…

ABU:

The winter storm in the mountains precluded ice climbing. I did get out for

some classic Nordic skiing. My main focus was refinement of technique.

Specifically, my knees were collapsing inward a bit when I transition weight to

them. I found that Attention to Mula actually works to align the flex of the

knee outward over the ski. There is something about the rhythm of classic

versus skating that just resonates with me right now. om mani padme hum � on

every climb � Peace.

ILG:

beautiful. continue. you may wish to plant an ethereal lotus flower between the

knees while skate skiing…the Lotus Pedals will keep the knees from collapsing inward.

also, a key to not collapsing in the knees is riding a flat drive ski as long as possible; to help

ride a flatter drive ski, overexaggerate the reaching up phase of your Hang Arm.

ABU:

I received the Pranayama adjustments in the separate email. Thank You!!!!!! I

understand what you wrote. I�ll work with the changes and send observations to

you. One additional note from this morning�s session � during the external retention

(without Uddiyana, but after some reps with Uddiyana), there was an interesting

sensation. The cavity below the diaphragm and above the pelvic floor seemed to

�suck inward� creating a feeling of an �hourglass shape�. Mula, almost

involuntarily, connected and �sealed� in a very secure way that I hadn�t felt

before.

ILG:

good! after “securing” Mula Bandha in this dimension, there will be a kinesthetic

ignition switch to gain further refinement, uplift-ment, and POWER to your Uddiyana Bandha.

you may wish to work with some more Inutitive Agni Sara Pulls to condition this

new dimension of Mula Bandha.

ABU:

� more as it arises.

in Light,

–abu

ILG:

i bow to your Devoted Practice,

coach ilg