Posts archive: All Collected Yoga Articles, Views & Posts Timeline

The Yoga of Patañjali, presented in very brief pithy statements…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

“The Yoga of Patañjali, presented in very brief pithy statements,
asserts that all human problems emanate from the mind
and can be resolved by changing the quality of this mind.
Not only can they be resolved, but a person can also
utilise this refined mind for every use possible,
including comprehending the divine mystery.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras 1996

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

Ekāgratā is compared to the sharp tip of the steady flame…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

srimad_bhagavad_gita

“Ekāgratā is compared to the sharp tip
of the steady flame of a Ghee Lamp
when not exposed to any wind.
In other words,
the mind should not move
anywhere else other than in the
direction fixed for Dhāraṇā.
Obviously the Viṣaya for Dhāraṇā
and Dhyānam should be the same.
The stronger the Dhāraṇā,
the steadier the Dhyānam.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Six verse 19

View All Bhagavad Gītā Quotes Collected & Collated

108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 158 – Īśvara Praṇidhānā appears as a Sādhana Upāya at three unique reference points…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

Īśvara Praṇidhānā appears as a Sādhana Upāya at
three unique reference points in the Yoga Sūtra.
In the Samādhi Yoga Pāda within Chapter One.
In the Kriya Yoga Pāda within Chapter Two.
In the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga Pāda within Chapter Two.
Three appearances is in itself a call to take note.

A further reflection is that each of these occurrences
can also be linked to the three practice principles
in the Tri Krama of Cikitsā, Rakṣaṇa and Śikṣaṇa.

read more

108 Yoga Planning Pointers – 52 – Āsana are not automatic but can become so…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

A third factor, that of Respect for Responses

6. Āsana are not automatic but can become so.
The inevitability of voluntary actions is that we
get used to them and they become involuntary.
With this, the risk factor is increased as well.
So what is voluntary and what is involuntary is
completely different when there is a ‘new’ response.

However, such a response needs to be linked to
something deeper than just merely a ‘tweaking’,
or ‘inventive’ variation within the form of the body.

Given, that in Yoga the breath is that which gives life.
By cultivating a role for, and the purpose of the breath,
we are creating and re-creating a situation for, not just new,
but also more subtle responses to occur and reoccur.

Within this field for enhancing awareness,
through our relationship with the breath,
the risk factor is reduced as well.

Āsana Mudrā & Prāṇāyāma
– Collected Viniyoga of Practice Planning Principles

Āsana Mudrā & Prāṇāyāma
– Collected Practice Planning and Practice Theory Questions

108 Yoga Planning Pointers – 51 – We must consider our waking posture…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

A third factor, that of Respect for Responses

5. We must consider our waking posture,
which is usually standing or sitting.
Thus, we have a gap from this to
the main Āsana we intend to use.

How can we bridge this gap from everyday
postures to Āsana, in terms of form and function?
Principles of practice are means to bridge the
gaps according to place, time and circumstances.

Here, we can cultivate steps towards being
able to access an Āsana with a conscious
composure, remaining awake within it
and maintaining a respect for responses.

Āsana Mudrā & Prāṇāyāma
– Collected Viniyoga of Practice Planning Principles

Āsana Mudrā & Prāṇāyāma
– Collected Practice Planning and Practice Theory Questions

108 Yoga Planning Pointers – 50 – So Āsana are considered as voluntary phenomena…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

A third factor, that of Respect for Responses

4. So Āsana are considered as voluntary phenomena,
like writing with your opposite hand.
Thus, it is an action which requires conscious control.

However, when you are used to going from everyday
postures to Yoga Āsana they become automatic in use.
Thus, they become involuntary.

Āsana Mudrā & Prāṇāyāma
– Collected Viniyoga of Practice Planning Principles

Āsana Mudrā & Prāṇāyāma
– Collected Practice Planning and Practice Theory Questions

108 Yoga Planning Pointers – 49 – Voluntary, as in controlled action and involuntary…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

A third factor, that of Respect for Responses

3. Voluntary,
as in controlled action
and involuntary,
as in action or reaction
without conscious control,
have both positive and negative aspects.
For example, a person who has a particular
problem would seemingly come voluntarily.
However, their reaction in response to
what we ask them to do may be involuntary.
So we have to consider a person’s responses.
As in, what are and what are not
acceptable responses when we travel
from everyday postures to Yoga Āsana.

Āsana Mudrā & Prāṇāyāma
– Collected Viniyoga of Practice Planning Principles

Āsana Mudrā & Prāṇāyāma
– Collected Practice Planning and Practice Theory Questions

Where do Āsana lead us?……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

“Where do Āsana lead us?

1. For seated practices
(Adhyātmika Krama or Yoga Practice as a Self-Inquiry)
To stay in a stable posture with the spine erect,
for Dhyāna or preparation for Dhyāna.
2.  For health.
(Cikitsā Krama or Yoga Practice as a Self-Healing)
They do something for the energy flow of the body.
3. Ability to master the body
(Śakti Krama or Yoga Practice as a Self-Empowerment)
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.”
– TKV Desikachar

Further Reading – What is the Yoga of Krishnamacharya?

Fixing the Manas in a particular place…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

srimad_bhagavad_gita

“Fixing the Manas in a particular place,
disciplining the senses,
seated in a proper posture,
a person begins Yoga for Citta Śuddhi.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Six verse 12

View All Bhagavad Gītā Quotes Collected & Collated

108 Postural Practice Pointers – 51 – When looking at the means to explore the art of improvisation…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

When looking at the means to explore the art of
improvisation within the choice and application
of Āsana, we need to be specific in our intention.

For example,
we could look through the lens of two questions:
1. What are the areas that we wish to investigate?
2. What are the ways to explore these in Āsana?

If we are specific in regard to the first question,
as in what is the area or areas to be investigated,
then we can explore these in the second question,
through utilising the art of improvisation in Āsana.

Link to Series: 108 Postural Practice Pointers

Āsana and Mudrā Glossary
– Grouped into Standing, Kneeling,
Lying, Inverted, Backbend, Seated & Sitting

108 Postural Practice Pointers – 50 – One aspect to the art of modification in and of Asana…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

One aspect to the art of modification in Āsana,
is in order to sustain a specific direction of Candra
according to the primary Lakṣaṇa of and in an Āsana,
amidst a contrary potential to stimulate a dispersion
of Candra, because of the demands of the secondary
Lakṣaṇa overpowering that of the primary Lakṣaṇa.

This also implies that we have personally embedded
a theoretical and experiential understanding, through
study of the process in the Viniyoga of Āsana, according
to their inherent primary and secondary characteristics.

Link to Series: 108 Postural Practice Pointers

Āsana and Mudrā Glossary
– Grouped into Standing, Kneeling,
Lying, Inverted, Backbend, Seated & Sitting

108 Postural Practice Pointers – 49 – The art of improvisation in Āsana functions…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

The art of improvisation in Āsana functions
through two core practice principles, namely
that of the modification in and of the Āsana
and that of the variation in and of the Āsana.

Each can be defined more specifically in that:

Modification is that which brings you closer to
the Lakṣaṇa or core characteristics of an Āsana.

Variation is that which can take you away from
the Lakṣaṇa or core characteristics of an Āsana.

Link to Series: 108 Postural Practice Pointers

Āsana and Mudrā Glossary
– Grouped into Standing, Kneeling,
Lying, Inverted, Backbend, Seated & Sitting

108 Yoga Teaching Path Pointers – 51 – If we can accept that Yoga is more than just Āsana…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

If we can accept that Yoga is more than just Āsana,
what would you see as the difference between
Āsana as a practice and Yoga as a Sādhana?

Link to Series: 108 Yoga Teaching Path Pointers

108 Yoga Teaching Path Pointers – 50 – When talking about Yoga as if a practice…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

When talking about Yoga as if a practice,
I feel it could be helpful to distinguish
between which aspects of Yoga practice
we are actually referring to as they tend to
have differing, and at times even seemingly
contrasting, facets, paradigms and purposes.

Link to Series: 108 Yoga Teaching Path Pointers

Design and Experiment with a Practice around Āsana, Mudrā and Prāṇāyāma…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

Design and Experiment with a Practice around Jaṭhara Parivṛtti, Mahā Mudrā and Pratiloma Ujjāyī Prāṇāyāma

– Staying in Jaṭhara Parivṛtti and Mahā Mudrā for a minimum of 8 breaths each side and Pratiloma Ujjāyī Prāṇāyāma with a crown of 16 breaths.

– Within this Vinyāsa Krama will be a common thread within each of the three crowns of the ratio 1.1.1.1.
This may also be accessed as a crown within each of the three peaks.
However within the planning there will be a developmental thread, in that the ratio of 1.1.1.1. will increase in actual length, whilst the four aspects of the breath remain constant.
In other words, if the base unit for each of the four aspects of the breath in Jaṭhara Parivṛtti is 8 seconds, then the base unit in Mahā Mudrā is 10 seconds and the base unit in Pratiloma Ujjāyī Prāṇāyāma is 12 seconds.
This relationship is to remain progressive within the three crowns, so it may be in the form of 6, 8 or 10 seconds, et al.

The Vinyāsa Krama or planning steps in the complete practice will be for a total of 120 working breaths.

read more

108 Yoga Study Path Pointers – 38 – Perhaps be careful that the habits you are re-habituating towards…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

“Perhaps be careful that the habits
you are re-habituating towards
are not just as blinding as the
habits you are de-habituating from.”

Link to Series: 108 Yoga Study Path Pointers

108 Yoga Planning Pointers – 48 – Responses should be looked at according to the psychological…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

A third factor, that of Respect for Responses

2. Responses should be looked at according to
the psychological attitude of the individual.
We need to consider what is the end
and what are the means.
This is also seen as cause and effect.
The responses to the voluntary action
should be considered as a safety valve.
All this assumes we have respect for the individual and
the individual has or develops respect for themselves.

Āsana Mudrā & Prāṇāyāma
– Collected Viniyoga of Practice Planning Principles

Āsana Mudrā & Prāṇāyāma
– Collected Practice Planning and Practice Theory Questions

108 Yoga Study Path Pointers – 37 – According to the Paramparā of  Krishnamacharya and Desikachar…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

According to the Paramparā of
Krishnamacharya and Desikachar,
Āsana begets Mudrā,
Mudrā begets Prāṇāyāma,
Prāṇāyāma begets Pratyāhāra,
Pratyāhāra begets Dhāraṇā,
Dhāraṇā begets Dhyāna.
Of these five Upāya, only
Dhyāna is Meditation.

Link to Series: 108 Yoga Study Path Pointers