This past weekend over 20 students participated in a workshop on the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. In addition to learning the great wisdom contained in this yogic scripture, everyone also had the opportunity to learn and practice asanas as well as cleansing techniques, like neti and vaman. Pranayama, mudras, and bandhas, practices less commonly practiced in the U.S., were also discussed and practiced.

Above all, students walked away knowing more about the true purpose of Hatha Yoga, which is preparation for higher consciousness. While yoga is commonly thought to be a practice for the body, we wee reminded that  we are not merely seaking the freedom from diseaeses but the freedom from the bondage and the waverings of the mind.

The scripture proved to be full of information, and we will likely be studying it in even more depth during Sunday philosophy classes in the future. Stay tuned!

At its grossest manifestation, breathing involves the movement of muscles to transport air in and out of the body. Even at this level, the effects of how we breath extend to the heart and lungs. Beyond this, breathing occurs at the cellular level, as the functions of the nose, trachea, and lungs act together to transport oxygen from the air we breath in to our cells.

While breathing is an involuntary act, one in which we do not have to think to make happen, it can also be a voluntary act, with specific efforts affecting how we breath. As air enters the body, it eventually flows to the lunges and expands the chest. The diaphram is a muscle that divides the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. Its resting position is like a dome shape, yet when we breath deeply, the dome flattens to create more room in the chest cavity, and thus pushes out the abdominal area. Breathing this way is often called “belly breathing” or “diaphramic breathing” and allows for a deeper, slower breath that brings more oxygen in our body.

In the next part of this series, we will discuss techniques for breath awareness. Please post and comments of questions below, and we’ll try to address it as we go along!

So in our asana practice, it’s important to focus not just on what our body is doing, but on how we’re doing it. With this in mind, here are some things to consider in your own asana practice, whether it be at home or in class:

• Gracefully coming into poses and holding them long enough to achieve steadiness and comfort is more valuable than quickly moving through a routine just to finish X number of poses. However, asanas can also be held too long in that you can no longer maintain steadiness and comfort. Over time and with practice your duration will naturally increase, but never push yourself beyond your limit.

• Observe your breath for an indication of the quality of your asanas. It too should be steady, not jerky or uneven. Listening to the gentle flow of your breath can also be calming to the mind and provide focus, creating that steady state that leads into meditation.

• Make sure your body is free from holding any tension in asanas, such as clenched jaws and scrunched toes. While this may be a natural reaction to a challenging position, the goal should be to  achieve relaxation with alertness in your practice.

Remember, the way asanas make you feel is more important than how you look in the mirror or to the person next to you. Yoga is ultimately for ourselves – to bring freedom, peacefulness and happiness to our body and mind.

While it’s easy to think there is not enough time to do yoga everyday, as little as 5 minutes a day can make a dramatic difference in how you feel throughout the day. Try doing 2 surya namaskars (sun salutations) each morning for the next week and notice how it affects your posture, how it feels to walk and sit, and how you sleep at night. You’ll be surprised at how far a little effort can go. Imagine what 30 minutes a day can do for your life!

For those who have experienced a growth in their range of motion, strength or flexibility from attending a regular yoga class, there is more room to grow as you build a personal practice. Asanas that seem beyond one’s reach can be mastered by discipline and a focused practice. For example, few people can perform chakra asana (bridge pose) or padma asana (lotus pose) at ease without practice, and a yoga class doesn’t provide enough time to learn these challenging poses. Yet most people who try these asanas everyday will achieve improvement over time and experience the benefit of these essential poses.

A home practice also means that we can go beyond asanas. The cleansing of the internal body using yogic techniques, such as neti and vaman, boosts our immune and nervous systems and help us fight disease. Daily practice of pranayama is also essential to the upkeep that our body requires. Its benefits are countless and the Ashram is always available to teach these techniques so that you can practice on your own. Finally, incorporating a short meditation or prayer before or after your asanas can give new meaning to your practice.

It’s clear that the physical benefits of home practice are alone worthy of making the time. However, the true benefit of yoga, whether in the class or at home, goes beyond the body. When you are calmer in stressful situations, more kind and generous to those in need, able to fully concentrate at work, and more aware of and faithful in the divine energy in all that exists, then you are witnessing the effects of yoga in your daily life. Setting aside time to practice yoga is thus a gift you give yourself. It’s easy to go through life’s motions and never feel connected with our true self. A practice that starts with the physical but ultimately brings us to the inner peace within us is worth making time for.