“The greater the Śraddhā, the more meaning there is in the techniques such as Āsana, Prāṇāyāma, Dhyānam, Bhāvana and all the others. Without Śraddhā, these techniques have little effect on the state of the mind and the progress to Citta Vṛtti Nirodha.
However, sometimes some minor benefits that we get through Āsana or Prāṇāyāma practice, open up the Śraddhā within us. Śraddhā is within each of us but is covered. It could be any experience that uncovers it.”
– TKV Desikachar on Śraddhā in the Yoga Sūtra

“Diet has a great effect on Maitrī Bhāvana.”
– T Krishnamacharya commenting on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 23
cross referencing to Chapter One verse 33

“Bhāvana is a beneficial attitude that is consciously cultivated,
despite tendencies to the contrary”
– T Krishnamacharya commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33

“What are the effects of Kriyā Yoga?
Samādhi Bhāvana –
The ability to pursue the right practice that brings one closer to Īśvara.
Kleśa Tanū Karaṇa –
Reduction of those obstacles that we have somehow acquired through wrong actions,
leading to undesirable and bitter experiences.”
– T Krishnamacharya commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 2

“The paradox of being in a state of distraction
is that we are actually in a state of focus.
Its just that we are focused on being turned outwards,
as in the tendency of being scattered,
as in Vyutthāna Saṃskāra,
rather than being focused on being turned inwards,
as in the tendency of being contained,
as in Nirodha Saṃskāra.
Both Saṃskāra are acquired tendencies
and thus we can cultivate a choice within our oscillations.”
– Commenting on Yoga Sūtra Chapter 3 verse 9

“Further, he also added long ago, the idea of Bhāvana in the practice of Prāṇāyāma.
Long, long ago, he said, the breathing, inhalation, exhalation and retentions have some sort of relationship with the highest force, Lord Nārāyaṇa.
Inhalation is like an inspiration from God himself.
Retention is some sort of meditation, because you are with Him.
Exhalation is some sort of movement towards God,
and retention after exhale is like a surrender to God.”
– TKV Desikachar from lectures on ‘The Yoga of T Krishnamacharya’, given at Zinal, Switzerland 1981.

“Bhāvana means that I create for myself a place,
an idea, an image, a vision
and I direct my attention towards it.”
– ‘Concerning the Cakra’ by TKV Desikachar

“A Bhāvana doesn’t depend on the reality of what I fix upon.
I can direct my Bhāvana to a real sensation,
such as the contact between my feet and the ground, for instance.
But I could easily imagine myself in good health,
when in reality I am ill.”
– ‘Concerning the Cakra’ by TKV Desikachar

“It’s not until I understand how to
cultivate a space within My self
can I begin to experience that
which is the essence of the Self.”

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

“What does Patañjali mean by Pratipakṣa Bhāvanam in Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 33?
Discuss.”
To Download or View this Question as a PDF Study Sheet

“Forward Bends are back stretching Āsana in terms of Bhāvana.
Thus in Paścimatāna Āsana one of the foci is on avoiding pushing
from the lower back as you bend forward.
Thus move forward from the abdominal area by drawing it back,
to encourage the lower back to respond by lengthening.
If we push from the lower back in forward bends,
such as Paścimatānāsana, it can tighten this area,
thus inhibiting the focus on the quality of the Apāna Lakṣaṇa,
as well as transferring stress to the sacrum, hips and hamstrings.”

“When bending towards the lower limbs during forward bend Āsana,
move firstly by as if rounding from the lower back,
before ultimately rounding from the upper back.
In terms of a Bhāvana during the movement,
the focus is on exhaling from Apāna Sthāna towards Prāṇa Sthāna.
Thus breathing as if from the lower abdomen towards the upper chest.”

“When moving away from the lower limbs during forward bend Āsana,
move firstly by as if arching from the arms and upper back,
before ultimately arching from the lower back.
In terms of a Bhāvana during the movement,
the focus is on inhaling from Prāṇa Sthāna towards Apāna Sthāna.
Thus breathing as if from the upper chest towards the lower abdomen.”

“When less Āsana time than you would like,
better to reduce the number of Āsana,
or the number of repetitions,
or the length of the stays,
rather than, reducing the length of the breath.
Or….. even considering lengthening the breath,
thus even fewer Āsana, all with a longer breath than usual.
Here the Bhāvana could be to observe the effect
of a more spacious than usual Āsana breathing
on a more cramped than usual daily mindset.”

Links to Related Posts:

Yoga Practice is about a re-turning towards our inner life.

Bhāvana for the Breath in Āsana, Mudrā and Prāṇāyāma

A sample Parivṛtti and Paścimatāna Themed Group Practice

Pratikriyā Bhāvana for Vīrabhadrāsana

108 Postural Practice Pointers – 11 – Vinyāsa for Jaṭhara Parivṛtti

108 Postural Practice Pointers – 17 – Bhāvana for moving into Sālambana Bhujaṅgāsana

108 Postural Practice Pointers – 19 – In Dvipāda Pīṭham a key Bhāvana is on the feet……

108 Postural Practice Pointers – 20 – Bhāvana for moving within Forward Bends

108 Postural Practice Pointers – 23 – Bhāvana for the Hips in Parśva Uttānāsana

108 Postural Practice Pointers – 24 – In Dvipāda Pīṭham a key Bhāvana is on the arms……

108 Postural Practice Pointers – 26 – Bhāvana when moving or staying in Dvipāda Pīṭham

108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers – 2 – Bhāvana for the Breath in Prāṇāyāma

108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers – 5 – Bhāvana for the Breath in Kumbhaka

108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers – 6 – Bhāvana for the Breath in Nāḍī Śodhana

108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers – 10 – Bhāvana for Locational Breathing in Prāṇāyāma