“Āsana alone can be a support for
our outer relationship with living.
However, can Āsana alone be a support
for our inner relationship with dying?
Especially as our disposition towards
clinging to life is continuous, as well as
being deeply buried within our psyche.
This is why Yoga offers vehicles beyond Āsana
for the inner and especially the final journey.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 9

“Anubhūta is the change that
occurs in one’s state of mind
when it is related to external objects
through the involvement of the senses.
This is also known as experience.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 11

“In this Sūtra Patañjali states that there are two ways
to discipline the five types of mental activity.
They are Abhyāsa and Vairāgya.
Abhyāsa is practice.
Vairāgya is to disconnect or sever the link
between the Citta and external objects.
These two, Abhyāsa and Vairāgya,
always go together as a pair.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 12

“According to my teacher,
trying to calm the agitations of the mind by reflecting on external objects
is like trying to get milk from the wattles hanging from the neck of a goat.
All seekers of truth are therefore advised to focus,
instead, only on objects that are in the realm of the divine.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 35

“The Das Indriya or ten senses of experience and action,
whilst seen as belonging to the Bāhya Aṅga or five external limbs
in the eight limb Aṣṭa Aṅga Yoga of Patañjali,
are also the gateway to the Antar Aṅga or three internal limbs.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 54

“Before launching on Antar Aṅga Sādhana,
one should be a Niṣṭhāvān in Bāhya Aṅga Sādhana.
If this earlier stage is very well established,
then only a teacher may teach Dhyāna.”
– T Krishnamacharya 1984

“According to Krishnamacharya,
one who has not mastered the Bāhya Kumbhaka,
has not mastered the breath.”
– TKV Desikachar 1988

“Moving into the posture after the exhale (Bāhya Kumbhaka) is an adaptation.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992

“Jumping should be soundless and
always on the Bāhya Kumbhaka
or pause after the exhale.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“Whatever the effect Bāhya Kumbhaka has, it is
extended by the use of Uḍḍīyāna and Mūla Bandha.
However the total length of the breath is reduced.
Bandha substantially reduces the lengths
of the Pūraka, the Recaka and the Kumbhaka.
Which and by how much depends on the individual.”
– 108 Mudrā Practice Pointers

“When intending to use  Uḍḍīyana Bandha don’t
hold the stomach area tensely just after inhaling,
or if using Antar Kumbhaka, just before exhaling.
In choosing working ratios concentrate on those
emphasising the exhale and the Bāhya Kumbhaka.”
– 108 Mudrā Practice Pointers

“Jālandhara Bandha needs to be re-applied
every time during the Bāhya Kumbhaka,
prior to the Pūraka re-inforcing the lock.”
– 108 Mudrā Practice Pointers

“Explore the Antar Kumbhaka with a soft holding.
Explore the Bāhya Kumbhaka with a firm surrender.”
– 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers

“Bhāvana for the Breath in Āsana, Mudrā and Prāṇāyāma
– Pūraka – Lifting from the Viśuddhi Cakra
– Antar Kumbhaka – Expanding from the Anahāta Cakra
– Recaka – Contracting from the Svādhiṣṭhāna Cakra
– Bāhya Kumbhaka – Sustaining from the Mūlādhāra Cakra”
– 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers

“Prāṇāyāma is common to both Haṭha and Rāja Sādhana,
whether working with the Prāṇa Śodhana of Haṭha Yoga,
where you were taught to practice it at each
of four transitional points through the day,
or with the Citta Śodhana of Patañjali,
where it is the pivotal Bahya Aṅga,
Prāṇāyāma is seen as the primary means to engage
the Élan Vital, the vital force or creative principle.”
– 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers

“There are special times
when we need to disconnect
from the sensory external in order
to connect with the psychic internal.”
– 108 Dhāraṇā Practice Pointers

“In terms of reasons to practice,
reducing the external is not the
same as enhancing the internal.”
– 108 Yoga Practice Pointers

“Ere to our Yoga Sādhana turning inwards towards engaging
the Antar Aṅga and the Ātma–Buddhi relationship,
we are advised to first turn outwards towards engaging
the Bahya Aṅga and the Manas–Indriya relationship.”
– 108 Yoga Study Path Pointers

Links to Related Posts:

• Āsana and Mudrā Glossary – Grouped into Standing, Kneeling, Lying, Inverted, Backbend, Seated & Sitting
• Glossary of Prāṇāyāma & Bandha Practice Techniques – Grouped into Primary, Secondary & Ancillary Techniques
• Compendium of Quotes from TKV Desikachar on the Yoga of T Krishnamacharya……
• Considerations for Vinyāsa Krama around Bakāsana……
• cYs Practitioner Training Programme Retreat Extract 2 – Self Planning & Self Practice
• cYs Practitioner Training Programme Retreat Extract 3 – Self Planning & Self Practice
• cYs Practitioner Training Programme Retreat Extract 4 – Self Planning & Self Practice
• Deepening our relationship with Prāṇāyāma deepens our relationship with Āsana……
• I do feel that verses 10 and 11 Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two offer……
• The breadth, depth and potential of Desikachar’s teachings on practice……
• Though there are many different aspects to formal ‘home’ practice……
• viniyoga Vignette 1 – Antar and Bāhya Kumbhaka in Āsana
• viniyoga Vignette 5 – Introducing Uḍḍīyana Bandha within an Āsana practice