“It is possible to be aware of the state of the mind by observing the body during an Āsana practice.”
- Teaching notes from a 6 day retreat with TKV Desikachar in England April 1992
Category Archives: Āsana
It is possible to be aware of the state of the mind by observing……
The body can be underused, overused and abused……
The body can be underused, overused and abused, we need to be aware of what is happening with the body, but we also need to do something for the mind.
It is possible to be aware of the state of the mind by observing the body during an Āsana practice.
- There are many postures to suit a variety of different body types.
- Āsana practice is to prepare the body, to sit for Prāṇāyāma.
Also posted in cYs Journal, Dhyānam, Haṭha, News Views & Posts, Paul’s Yoga Related Stuff, Prāṇāyāma, viniyoga of Yoga
Yoga is often attributed to Āsana practice alone……
“Yoga is often attributed to Āsana practice alone, which is only the part of Yoga focusing on the physical body or servicing the body.”
- Notes from TKV Desikachar’s lectures at a 6 day retreat in England in April 1992
There are two categories of practice……
There are two categories of practice, the Śikṣaṇa Krama way, according to the rules, or the Cikitsa Krama way, the application or adaptation of a posture to suit a particular person or a particular situation.
- The authority for the postures comes from the teacher, although some rules are indicated in the texts.
Also posted in cYs Journal, Dhyānam, Haṭha, News Views & Posts, Paul’s Yoga Related Stuff, Prāṇāyāma, viniyoga of Yoga
Value of the breath in Āsana for Prāṇāyāma……
1. Know the Breath from the feelings in the Āsana.
2. Choose a ratio close to that used in Āsana.
3. Choose a technique to suit the day.
4. Choose a proper posture for the spine.
- TKV Desikachar June 29th 1978 from a one week retreat on Prāṇāyāma in Switzerland
By observing how the breath responds in Āsana……
“By observing how the breath responds in Āsana i.e.
1. Forward Bends.
2. Backward Bends.
3. Lying Postures.
4. Inverted Postures.
5. Twist Poses.
As to whether there is a better quality in either inhalation or exhalation one can decide how to proceed in Prāṇāyāma.”
– TKV Desikachar June 29th 1978 from a one week retreat on Prāṇāyāma in Switzerland.
Breath is indispensable for life and its absence is death……
“Breath is indispensable for life and its absence is death.
Hence the necessity to make it longer and accumulate the Prāṇa Śakti.
Just as a rich man accumulates money slowly to get wealthy, so also one should practice every day through the proper use of the breath in Āsana to maintain good health.”
- T Krishnamacharya’s response to a question on breathing.
Three questions given by Desikachar in a retreat in 1978……
“1. What interests you most in Āsana?
2. What distinguishes Āsana from Prāṇāyāma?
3. What is hard to teach? Āsana and/or Prāṇāyāma, or something else?”
– TKV Desikachar June 26 1978
Also posted in cYs Journal, Dhyānam, Haṭha, Pauls Daily Quotes Page, Paul’s Yoga Related Stuff, Prāṇāyāma, viniyoga of Yoga, Yoga Bricolage
Bṛṃhaṇa Kriyā and Laṅghana Kriyā are the Expansive and Contractive……
Bṛṃhaṇa Kriyā and Laṅghana Kriyā are the Expansive and Contractive potentials within the practice of Āsana, Prāṇāyāma and Mudrā and are actualised through an understanding of the primary principles that inform Haṭha Yoga.
The alchemical process underpinning this understanding is the satviniyoga (appropriate application) of the relationship between the two primary principles of Prāṇa (bio-energy) and Agni (inner fire) in order to influence Haṭha Yoga concepts such as Nāḍī (inner channels), Cakra (heuristic dhyeya [fit for meditation, to be pondered or imagined] ) and Kuṇḍalinī (root blockage).
In terms of Bṛṃhaṇa Kriyā and Laṅghana Kriyā, the satviniyoga of Bṛṃhaṇa affects a dispersion of Agni from the core to the periphery and the satviniyoga of Laṅghana affects a withdrawal of Agni from the periphery to the core.
The Spine with the Breath in Āsana, Prāṇāyāma and Mudrā
Bṛṃhaṇa Kriyā, Laṅghana Kriyā and Samana Kriyā – The concepts of Expansive, Contractive and Equalising qualities are three activities (Kriyā) inherent within the Breath and Āsana.
Understanding the viniyoga (application) of this particular Trikriyā facilitates access, through the Vīna Daṇḍa (spine), Nāḍī (inner channels) and Agni (inner fire), to energising, cleansing and aligning potentials in the practice of Āsana, Prāṇāyāma and Mudrā.
Also posted in Āyurveda, cYs Journal, From Pauls Notebooks, Pauls Daily Quotes Page, Prāṇāyāma, viniyoga of Yoga
Conscious breathing is one of the greatest tools to influence……
“Conscious breathing is one of the greatest tools to influence the effect of the postures without changing the posture.”
- TKV Desikachar
Also posted in cYs Journal, Desikachar Quotations, Haṭha, Pauls Daily Quotes Page, Quotations, viniyoga of Yoga
Where do Āsana lead us?……
Where do Āsana lead us?
1. For seated practices. (Adhyātmika)
To stay in a stable position with the spine erect for Dhyāna or preparation for Dhyāna.
2. For health. (Cikitsa)
They do something for the energy flow of the body.
3. Ability to master the body. (Śakti)
Not necessarily to promote health but to show that we can master the body. Often these are good for health, though many are only useful as challenges.
From my study notes with TKV Desikachar.
(To read fuller definitions of the three concepts visit the page on What is Yoga and the viniyoga of Yoga.)
We are welcome to use Kumbhaka (breath suspension) but……
”We are welcome to use Kumbhaka (breath suspension) but if it in any way affects the quality of the Inhale or Exhale and our own relation with this flow, then there is no meaning. The tragedy of Kumbhaka is that we can use force, as in Āsana, to achieve our aim. But why and at what price?”
- TKV Desikachar June 30th 1978 from a one week retreat on Prāṇāyāma in Switzerland
Begin your practice from where you are, finish your practice where you are going.
“Begin your practice from where you are, finish your practice where you are going.” – TKV Desikachar June 1978
TKV Desikachar’s Yoga Routine for Soccer and Football – with Larry Payne, 1986
Posted by Samata Yoga in three parts with introductions by the late Mary Lou Skelton and TKV Desikachar.
Part One
Continue ReadingAlso posted in All Drawn from the Web, cYs Journal, Views around the Source, viniyoga of Yoga, Yoga Bricolage
I have a strong feeling my father invented these sequences……
“Question: Why were Yogāsana-s practiced differently before this book (Yoga Makaranda)?
TKV Desikachar: I have a strong feeling my father invented these sequences based on a classical way of prostration to the Sun called Sūrya Namaskāra. He extended it to other Āsana-s as well based on this ancient procedure. He probably innovated in this manner because he had to teach young children at the Yogaśālā, whose energy levels are very different from adults. We are fortunate for this today, as a wide range of practitioners practice Yogāsana-s in this form.”
From an interview in complementary Issue 0, August 2011 in Synergie a bi-annual newsletter published by Media Garuda, the Media division of KHYF.
The test for intelligent effort is the response of the breath.
Also posted in cYs Journal, News Views & Posts, Pauls Daily Quotes Page, Paul’s Yoga Related Stuff
Exercise should be ‘standard part of cancer care’
All patients getting cancer treatment should be told to do two and a half hours of physical exercise every week, says a report by Macmillan Cancer Support. (More than many attending their weekly Yoga Āsana Class? Plus there are also holidays to take into account?)
BBC News Today
Also posted in All Drawn from the Web, cYs Journal, Yoga, Health & Lifestyle
One should practice and inquire into the effects of the practice…….
“One should practice and inquire into the effects of the practice (short term and long term) as well as the practice.” – TKV Desikachar June 1978
Continue ReadingAlso posted in cYs Journal, Pauls Daily Quotes Page, Paul’s Yoga Related Stuff, viniyoga of Yoga
We must discover why we practice.
Also posted in cYs Journal, Pauls Daily Quotes Page, Paul’s Yoga Related Stuff, viniyoga of Yoga
Responses to three questions for a media article
I was recently asked to provide ‘expert quotes’ in response to three questions for a media article by a freelance journalist for MSN on a Yoga related issue. These are my reflections:
Continue ReadingAlso posted in cYs Journal, Haṭha, Pauls Musings on Yoga Today, Paul’s Yoga Related Stuff, viniyoga of Yoga
The Breath is the canvas on which we paint the pictures of our Body.
Also posted in cYs Journal, Haṭha, Pauls Daily Quotes Page, Paul’s Yoga Related Stuff, viniyoga of Yoga
Standing to Challenge, Lying to Support, Inverted to……
Guidelines for Breath in Āsana and Prāṇāyāma
Standing to Challenge, Lying to Support, Inverted to Develop, Back Bend to Stimulate, Seated to Refine, Seated Breathing to Transcend, – the Breath.
Also posted in cYs Journal, Haṭha, News Views & Posts, Pauls Daily Quotes Page, Paul’s Yoga Related Stuff, Prāṇāyāma, viniyoga of Yoga
Āsana practice should take into account……
Āsana practice should take into account:
- Where we are – Where am I?
- Where are we going – What is my goal?
- What happens afterwards – How do I continue with my life?