Pranayama - mangalam.nlMantra Pranayama So Ham Pranayama is probably the most common form of Mantra...

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Pranayama teacher training second session notes

Transcript of Pranayama - mangalam.nlMantra Pranayama So Ham Pranayama is probably the most common form of Mantra...

Page 1: Pranayama - mangalam.nlMantra Pranayama So Ham Pranayama is probably the most common form of Mantra Pranayama. It consists of letting the sound So resound naturally on inhalation and

Pranayamateacher training second session notes

Page 2: Pranayama - mangalam.nlMantra Pranayama So Ham Pranayama is probably the most common form of Mantra Pranayama. It consists of letting the sound So resound naturally on inhalation and

DrishtiA drishti (view or gaze) is a specific focal point that is employed during meditation or while holding a yoga posture. The ancient yogis discovered that where our gaze is directed our attention naturally follows, and that the quality of our gazing is directly reflected in the quality of our mental thoughts. When the gaze is fixed on a single point the mind is diminished from being stimu-lated by all other external objects. And when the gaze is fixed on a single point within the body, our awareness draws inwards and the mind remains undisturbed by external stimuli. Thus, the use of a drishti allows the min pancha bhuta, d to focus and move into a deep state of concentration. And the constant application of drishti develops ekagraha, single-pointed focus, an essential yogic technique used to still the mind.The most useful drishti points used are the breath and the chakras. External focal points can also be used, such as the tip of the nose, a candle or mandala.In yoga postures, a drishti is used to deepen the primary move-ment of the pose, as well as to keep the mind engaged and focused. Using a drishti is especially helpful if you are holding a posture for an extended period of time, and is helpful while practicing balancing poses.Angusthamadhye - to the middle of the thumb.Bhrumadhye - to the middle of the eyebrows.Nasagre - to the tip of the nose.Hastagrahe - to the tips of the hand.Parshva - the side (looking left or right).Urdhva - above or rising (upwards).Nabhicakre - on the central circle (navel).Padayoragre - to the tips of the feet (toes).

Page 3: Pranayama - mangalam.nlMantra Pranayama So Ham Pranayama is probably the most common form of Mantra Pranayama. It consists of letting the sound So resound naturally on inhalation and

Mantra PranayamaSo Ham Pranayama is probably the most common form of Mantra Pranayama. It consists of letting the sound So resound naturally on inhalation and the sound Ham on exhalation, following them in the sound of the breath itself. So, whose energy is lunar, draws en-ergy inward and allows the inhalation to be wide and expansive.So or Sa means He as the higher Self, the Atman.Ham as exhalation sends energy outward and increases the solar aspect of the breath. Ham is short for Aham meaning I, myself. This natural sound then is saying that He (the higher Self) am I or “I am pure consciousness”. In its most basic form the breath is allowed to naturally deepen, while mentally repeating the mantra and listening to it in the sound of the breath. Another method is to use the seed mantras of the five elements to balance solar and lunar energies or for other purposes. Because of the connection between prana and air, Yam is widely used with pranayama to get the prana to move. It aids in the flow of prana or air in any of the nadis or channel systems.

TattvaTattva is a Sanskrit word meaning thatness, element, principle of reality, or truth, and is used to explain the structure and origin of the Universe. The syllable tat means that, twa means what is. One of the most popular expressions found in the Upanishads is Tat Tvam Asi which means That You Are. Tantra says that the macrocosmos is inherent in the microcosmos and that manifestation and dissolution is inherent in each individual.

Page 4: Pranayama - mangalam.nlMantra Pranayama So Ham Pranayama is probably the most common form of Mantra Pranayama. It consists of letting the sound So resound naturally on inhalation and

The human body is considered to be composed of a number of tattvas, on the gross, subtle and causal levels, that cover the entire spectrum of human existence and experience. The Samkhya phi-losophy uses a system of 25, while Shaivism recognises 36 tattvas. Fifteen supplementary tattvas are sometimes added, making a to-tal of fifty-one elements, corresponding with the fifty-one letters of the Sanskrit alphabet.

Pancha BhutaThe Yogatattva Upanishad (300 CE) states that the five lower chakras are related to the five basic elements, pancha bhuta, although there is some variation with the descriptions in the classical texts, both in particulars and degree of detail. These are: earth (bhumi/prithvi), water (apas/varuna/jal), fire (tejas/agni), air (marut/vayu/pavan) and space (akasha/shunya).Each have a list of characteristics acting as the gross medium. Vis-ualising these helps to deepen the connection with the element.The pancha bhuta govern specific parts of the body and are also represented in each finger. This has significance when perform-ing hand mudras, as different elements are symbolically joining together and brought into balance. Our fingers have enormous power and with the right positioning the fingers of both hands can rejuvenate the body.

Page 5: Pranayama - mangalam.nlMantra Pranayama So Ham Pranayama is probably the most common form of Mantra Pranayama. It consists of letting the sound So resound naturally on inhalation and

Earth - Bhumi or Prithvistate - the most gross and basest element, it is not just soil, but everything that is solid. sense - smellorgan - noseperception - heard, felt, seen, tasted, smelledfinger - ring finger (anamika) touching the thumb tipshape - squarebija - lam

Water - Apas, Varuna or Jalstate - everything that is liquid. Flow, cohesion, lubrication and connection.sense - tasteorgan - tongueperception - heard, felt, seen, tastedfinger - tips of little finger (kanishthika) & thumb togethershape - cresent moonbija - vam

MudrasMudras denote the finger and hand gestures used in the perform-ance of dances, rituals, rites and meditation. They symbolically express inner feelings and psychological states, and can generate

various qualities such as fear-lessness, power, charity and peace in the practitioner and to on-lookers.The finger tips have many con-centrated nerve root endings and by touching together the tips of the fingers or to other parts of the palms Prana is redi-rected back into the body along specified channels.

Page 6: Pranayama - mangalam.nlMantra Pranayama So Ham Pranayama is probably the most common form of Mantra Pranayama. It consists of letting the sound So resound naturally on inhalation and

Fire - Tejas or Agni state - transformation and change, from one form to another. sense - sightorgan - eyeperception - heard, felt, seenfinger - press second bone of ring finger with thumb (angustha)shape - inverted trianglebija - ramAir - Marut, Vayu or Pavan state - everything that is a gas. Akasha in motion. sense - touchorgan - skinperception - heard, feltfinger -press second bone of index finger (tarjani) with thumbshape - hexagram (shatkona)bija - yam

Space - Akasha, Vyom or Shunyastate - the container of the other elements. sense - sound organ - earperception - heardfinger - press second bone of middle finger (madhyama) with thumbshape - circlebija - ham