I am pleased to announce the next Pranayama intensive. In this program, we will be practicing some of the main pranayama techniques given in our ancient yoga texts. I will also discuss the underlying concepts in the practice of pranayama and all the wonderful benefits that the practice can bring us.
No prior pranayama or meditation experience is required.
Here are the particulars:
What: 14-day pranayama intensive
When: Monday, April 9 – Sunday, April 22, 2018
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 AM
Location: 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
On Saturday, March 10, 2018, the Hindu Temple (HSNC – Hindu Society of North Carolina) organized a yoga event dubbed as "Surya Namaskar Yogathon" wherein we practiced 108 rounds of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations).
Introduction
If you have attended a yoga class, be that at a yoga studio, a health club, gym, or on-line, chances are that Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) was a part of the routine. Surya Namaskar has now become an integral part of most yoga styles that are practiced. As expected, each style of yoga introduces its own variations into the Surya Namaskar routine.
The core involves the structures that make up the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex (LPHC) including lumbar spine, pelvic girdle, abdomen, and hip joint. Essentially, the core is the midsection and it involves all the muscles in that area including the front, back and sides. A strong an stable core can help prevent back pain and improve posture. It also helps in practicing many of the yoga asanas.
In today’s post, we will practice the bicycle moves from the reclining position to help strengthen and stabilize the core muscles. I hope you will enjoy practicing with the video.
I invite you to join us for this memorable yoga event where we will practice 108 rounds of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations). Surya Namaskar, practiced to the accompaniment of beautifully chanted mantras, will not only invigorate and energize you but also lead you into a state of deep meditation.
Event: Surya Namaskar Yogathon (108 rounds of Sun Salutations)
Location: Hindu Temple (HSNC), main Cultural Hall, 309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560; temple phone: (919) 481-2574
When: Saturday, March 10, 2018
Time: 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM (on-site registration starts at 6:30 AM)
Program Fee (donation to the temple – includes veggie lunch): $20 with pre-registration or $25 on the day of the event; In addition, please try to find sponsors who might be willing to pledge money per round that you complete.
Program: Om chanting, invocation prayer, a brief discussion of the mantras associated with SN (a chart of SN is available on my website here), practice 108 rounds of Surya Namaskar accompanied by the chanting of beautifully rendered Surya Namaskar mantras, yoga nidra (deep relaxation), brief session of pranayama to balance out the flow of prana, closing chants.
Lunch: Vegetarian lunch will follow the event
Light snacks, tea/coffee will be available in the hallway during the event.
To register: please fill out the registration form on the HSNC website and submit it online. You can make the payment on the same page.
If you’ve attended a yoga class with me, you would have noted that Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) is an integral part of the routine that we practice. Typically, we practice three rounds of Surya Namaskar. In the first round, we go through the basic sequence which has the classic 12 movements. In the second and third round, we add some variations to many of the movements. For example, in the second round some of the common poses that we practice include warrior 1, warrior 2, triangle pose, pigeon pose etc. In the third round, we usually practice the upward facing dog and also occasionally some twisting variations from the lunge position.
In today’s post, I am presenting the sequence of three rounds of Sun Salutation with the Lizard pose (uttana-prishthasana) integrated into the second round. The Lizard pose is great for opening the hips and stretching and strengthening the hamstrings, inner thighs, the pelvic area and the spine.
I am pleased to announce the next 21-day Yoga Immersion program. The past programs have been very well received by all the participants. For most of them, it has been truly a life-transforming experience. I invite you to join me on this exciting and deeply rewarding 21-day yoga journey. Here are the particulars:
What: 21-day yoga immersion
When: Monday, February 26 – Sunday, March 18, 2018
Time: 6:00 AM – 7:30 AM
Where: Integral Yoga Studio, 4000 Bear Cat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560
The word “prana” (prāṇa – प्राण) is derived from the Sanskrit root word “an” (अन्) with the prefix “pra” added. “an” means to breathe. When we add the prefix “pra” then prana assumes a much broader meaning in addition to simply the breath. Prana can mean the cosmic life force or the individual vital life energy. It is the life force or the life principle that keeps us “alive”. In many parts of India, when a person dies, the statement made is “prana left the person’s body” and the implication is that the person is dead. At the time of death some of the organs in the body like the liver, kidney, eyes etc. may still be functional. In fact, that is how organ transplant is done from a cadaver. The only reason these organs are of no use in the body is because there is no prana in the body. In a different body where the prana is still there, this organ can replace the damaged organ and resume normal function.
There is a story about Prana that we find in ancient texts, the Upanishads. Our five main faculties – the mind, breath (prana), speech, ear and eye – were arguing with each other as to which one of them was the best and most important. To resolve this dispute they decided that each would leave the body and see whose absence was most missed.
A few years ago, I attended a workshop on “yoga and eye care” taught by one Dr. Khare who was visiting from India. The workshop presented a pretty comprehensive set of practices for improving/stabilizing vision. Part of the information was based on the book, “Better Eyesight without Glasses” by William Bates. This book came out in the forties and has been a standard resource for eye care ever since. Recently I found this website which also provides similar information in a detailed manner – “The Complete book of Eye Care” – http://eye.taragana.com/ by Dr. M. S. Agarwal. I am presenting below the “7-point Program” in a condensed version of these practices.
I suggest that you add at least a subset of the eye exercises given here as a part of your home yoga practice. Those who have attended my yoga classes will recognize many of these exercises as we try to pick a different exercise for each class. Personally, I have found that regular eye exercises have helped me maintain my eye prescription the same for over twenty years now. I use glasses only for reading and computer work and have given up using them for driving or outdoor work
If you’ve attended a yoga class with me, you would have noted that Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) is an integral part of the routine that we practice. Typically, we practice three rounds of Surya Namaskar. In the first round, we go through the basic sequence which has the classic 12 movements. In the second and third round, we add some variations to many of the movements to emphasize stretching specific areas of the body.
In today’s post I will be discussing a sequence that will help develop upper body strength. This sequence will be integrated into the second round of the Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) routine.
My friend Anupam Jain has graciously agreed to be your guide for the video presentation. Hope you will enjoy practicing along with the video.
[This is an edited version of the transcript of the monthly workshop on the yoga sutras held on October 21, 2017. In this session, we covered the following sutras:
Sutra 1.16: higher form of vairagya (non-attachment)
Sutras 1.30-1.31: obstacles to the path of yoga
Sutra 1.33: Four attitudes for four categories of people
Sutra 2.28: why practice the eight limbs of yoga?
Sutra 2.29: Listing the eight limbs of yoga]
Invocation to Sage Patanjali
In this invocation, Patanjali is credited with three areas of knowledge – science of Ayurveda to purify the body, the commentary on Sanskrit grammar to purify the speech and the science of Yoga (Yoga Sutras) to purify the mind.
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