Description

Have you ever wondered why the Sanskrit scriptures do not talk about muscles, diaphragm, lungs, nostrils, air tubes, oxygen... whilst all modern explanations of Pranayama are solely speaking in anatomical terms? Have you ever looked at the Hatha texts and noticed that they speak about vayu, nadi, chakra, kanda, kumbhaka, kundalini... when instructing Pranayama? The texts do not use these terms in absence of anatomical knowledge, they use them as they talk about a process different from respiration. Premodern India did not instruct respiratory exercises, they instructed expansion (ayama) of life (Prana).

You will learn and experience the real Pranayama, through understanding of the relevant Sanskrit verses and by experience. Practice can take a deeper level for those who engage in the original approach and their teaching will eventually change. My students love it!

We will explore the difference between Pranayama and respiration, looking at relevant Sanskrit verses so that you are able to practice the original pranayama by yourself.

Draft Timetable

10.00: Introduction

10.30: Practical: the difference between pranayama and respiration

11.00:

• Yoga is not done with the physical body
• Prana and the pranic body, the vayus
• Sanskrit pranayama verses: pranayama is the purification of the nadis

12.30: Practical: the vayus

13.00: Lunch

14.00: Questions

14.20: Experience asana with pranayama that purifies the nadis

14.45: A controversial approach on the 'four' phases of breath, kumbhaka

15.15: Practical: kumbhaka

15.40: Summary, where to go from here and Q&A

About the tutor

I have practiced yoga for over 40 years, been a teacher for 30 years and a DCT for 20 years. All this time I studied the Indian scriptures, I have learned Sanskrit and brought the Indian message into my practice and teaching. I have watched with sadness how much Yoga changed from a spiritual practice to exercise in the modern world and see it as my mission to bring the ancient Indian spirit back. As part of this mission I wrote my book on pranayama, the idea of it which I will introduce.

Additional Information

What to Bring

Mat, blocks, strap and anything else you might need for your own comfort during practice.