Introduction to the asana
Asanas-Yoga rules
Bhadrasana
Brmhacharya asana
Don't Do
Asanas When
Eye Exercises
Gomukhasana
Hathyoga warm-up
Yoga Introduction
Introduction
Surya Namaskaar
The Plough Posture
The
Spinal Roll or Rocking Exercise
The Stomach Lift
What Asanas
Will Do For You
Yoni asana
Practical Suggestions to Hath Yoga Students
How to Practice
Schedule
of Exercises
Most
modern
yoga
classes and books have lost the secret key of Hatha Yoga. The true purpose of
the ancient practices of the yoga system is to bring a superior balance and
awaken the subtle energies of the body. It is not so much a physical practice
but a spiritual practice based on
SHAKTI,
the fundamental vibrating energy of every human being.
Hatha Yoga is an age-old discipline of Yoga.
Hatha comes from "ha" - solar (+) and "tha" - lunar (-), the harmonious union of
the two opposite aspects in the human body. The practice of yoga postures (ASANAS)
aims to open and purify the energy centers (CHAKRAS)
and energy channels (NADIS).
Our goal is to introduce in
Occident an initiatic or paranormal approach to the practice of asanas. At the
present moment, the literature about asanas is rich, however, it presents a
major flaw - it focuses exclusively on the exterior, exoteric, aspects, leaving
the hidden, esoteric aspects unknown. But how is this possible ? Let's see Â…
first of all, the
tantric
masters who really know the secrets of Hatha Yoga chose not to reveal to the
large masses their esoteric knowledge on asanas, preferring to transmit this
information "from mouth to ear", never comitting it in writing. Even the most
famous texts on Hatha Yoga : Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita and
Siva
Samhita are at best very elliptic, never offering a plain explanation for
everyone to understand.
The second reason for this regrettable situation is the lack of
deep mystical experience of the most yoga instructors and book authors from our
days. As a result, there are a number of wide spread misconceptions about Hatha
Yoga. Asanas are not mere physical exercises and they are not meant simply for
health and relaxation. We submit to your attention the concept of asanas as
paranormal training exercies.
The secret of ASANAS
The subtle body has seven principal energy centers and many secondary ones. When
a
yogi
performs an
asana,
the specific configuration taken by the force centers (CHAKRAS) creates a
connection to the corresponding subtle energies from the Universe through the
process of
RESONANCE.
"Resonance" comes from the
Latin "resonare", which means to resound, to vibrate. The process of resonance
comprises two systems, in our case the human being and the "macrocosm"
or universe, which have a common vibration frequency. The asana helps the yogi
"tune in" one of the infinite spheres of energy of the macrocosm. In order to
achieve this process of resonance the yogi mentally evokes the desired effect
while performing the asana.
The practice of asanas is at
least as much a mental practice as it is a physical practice. Let's take for
example Bhujanghasana, the Cobra Pose. When a yogi performs this pose all he has
to think is "pure love" and concentrate on his heart
chakra.
This is the secret key of Bhujanghasana, and if it is used properly it will
induce resonance between the yogi's heart chakra (anahata
chakra) and the infinite macrocosmic sphere of love (maha
anahata chakra), transferring virtually unlimited quantities of the love-energy
to his heart.
There is a perfect
correspondence between one's own chakras, located within the
microcosm
of the human subtle body, and the exterior, infinite chakras of the macrocosm.
Everything that exists in the macrocosm exists in us as well and something that
does not exist inside of us does not exist in the macrocosm - this is the law of
correspondence. However, while in the macrocosm all the subtle forces are
perfectly energized with infinite power, in the microcosm they are often
dormant, existing only in a state of potentiality. For example, one person may,
in theory, have the possibility to experience pure infinite love, the same
person may not actually experience this love because of a lack of resonance with
the same types of energies from the macrocosm.
The law of correspondence
associates every psychic energy with a specific form, color, sacred word and
musical note. For instance,
Muladhara
Chakra, the force center of vitality is associated with the square, the
yellow-brown color and the "LAM" sacred word.
This is the first time the correlation between asanas and force
centers is revealed. This step is unprecedented in the Occident and opens the
door for a deeper and more spiritual approach to asanas. In fact we can say that
there is no "real" Hatha Yoga outside the practice of chakra meditation and
chakra awareness.
A common man looking at a
yogi practicing asana may imagine that what he sees is all there is to it. In
fact, the secret of asanas is not the posture itself, but the mental
concentration associated with the execution. That is why many have seen
yogis
performing Hatha Yoga and considered that they too would be able to do the same
by mimicking their pose. Nothing can be further from the genuine practice of
asanas.
Hatha
Yoga is approchable by everyone, even by convinced materialists
New Hatha Yoga students are not required to have unquestioned faith, all they
are required to have is openness of heart and mind and the will to give a fair
chance to its system of exercises. Many new students were convinced materialists
and they came to the yoga class only for health problems. However, the practice
of yoga resulted in a more acute understanding of one's own, native religion and
this understanding resulted in an opening of the heart towards it. By gradually
purifying the structure, starting with the physical and finishing with the
mental, the Hatha Yoga exercises bring a new world of capabilities and feelings
for the open minded student.
Kundalini
Yoga and ASANAS
Kundalini is the name of the most fundamental energy-force in the human being.
The awakening of this fundamental energy, Kundalini is experienced by a large
number of yogis and "ordinary" people all over the world. This "force", although
poorly known in the Western sciences, is the main vehicle of men towards the
revelation of the Supreme Self and the attainment of ultimate spiritual freedom.
In most "ordinary" people the fundamental energy Kundalini is dormant. It's
location (in the dormant state) is the sacral plexus (MULADHARA CHAKRA), but
when it is awakened, it raises from center to center, up the spinal chord (SUSUMNA
NADI) until it reaches the crown center (SAHASRARA),
accompanied by extraordinary emotions and states of
consciousnes.
Kundalini pierces the seven force centers (CHAKRAS) and generates the state of
spiritual illumination Â… but the experience of Kundalini is not without perils.
The spontaneous or accidental awakening of Kundalini can cause a great deal of
pain and even psychic problems. These sufferings are caused by the energy
overcharges in the subtle body. The "impurities" of the subtle body are "burned"
by Kundalini and this often is a painful process.
Of course, if the awakening
of Kundalini comes after attaining a solid training in Hatha Yoga, if the
chakras and nadis have been purified with asanas and
pranayama
(breath control exercies) then Kundalini is no longer a cause for painful
experiences - but a source of extraordinary bliss and sublime feelings.
Kundalini is the fastest path towards ultimate spiritual freedom and Hatha Yoga
is the best way to prepare for its awakening, because both asanas and Kundalini
work on the same subtle force centers (chakras) and subtle channels (nadis).
Opening the heart and finding the soul though ASANAS
The correct practice of Hatha Yoga produces a gradual awakening of the seven
force centers. With the activation of the first center (muladhara), we gain a
state of excellent vitality. With the activation of swadhistana chakra, we
ensure the capacity for harmonious social interactions and a healthy sexual
appetite. By activating
manipura
chakra, we amplify our will power. By opening anahata chakra (the heart chakra),
we gain the capacity to love infinitely - a divine state of pure love, without
having a particular object to be directed upon.
Vishuddha
chakra induces a state of great purity and deep spiritual intuition.
Ajna
chakra gives us perfect control over our subtle body and the paranormal power of
clairvoyance. Finally, sahasrara is responsible for the state of union of the
human being with the Absolute
Transcendence,
the most elevated state of consciousness.
Somewhere on this way, by balancing the feminine and masculine
aspects of our personality, by opening up so that we could resonate with the
benefic energies of the macrocosm, Hatha Yoga facilitates a profound
transformation of our inner being. Our consciousness is expanded to the
infinite, the heart is filled with bliss - this is the actual experience of many
people who walked this spiritual path.
Practicing Hatha Yoga
By contrast with the normal approach in sports, asanas do not intend to increase
the muscular mass, the force, speed or endurance - they don't aim for effort. In
fact, asanas are the exact opposite of aerobics and other sports. The keyword
here is "suppleness". The practice of asanas should not be accompanied by
effort.
The asanas are conceived in such a way that the muscles are not
involved in their execution. Instead of compressing the muscles, an asana
elongates them. The joints and the muscles are stretched and this does not
require effort. In fact it is normal that after a couple of hours of Hatha Yoga
a practicant should feel more energetic and vibrant than in the beginning of the
session, as opposite to a sports practicant who usually feels tired and
worn-out.
Here is a list of simple rules that are of great help when
practicing asanas :
· choose a certain time of day and practice asanas at the same
time every day
· the place for practice should be private and away from
agitation; you need a quiet retreated place that will give you privacy for the
duration of your exercises
· it is recommended that you practice on a blanket that can
cushion you from the cold or hard floor
·
before starting the sequence of asanas, you need to do the
warm-up
exercises; do not avoid them because otherwise you may harm yourself while
stretching in asanas
· while performing an asana do not let your mind wander
around; instead, focus on the specific chakras that are associated to that
particular pose. Remember that asana practice is a form of meditation. If you do
not focus on the right chakras, the spiritual efficience will drop under 5%.
· after the execution of each asana you want to take a minute to
fully assimilate into your consciousness the specific effects; this
consciousness-awareness phase can be executed in a comfortable position and is a
key to success in Hatha Yoga
· do not force your way through asanas; the asana should be
stable and comfortable
· before starting to practice any asana you should read the
counter-indications and avoid any health hazards; many asanas have specific
counter-indications and you shoud never ignore them
· it is much better to do 20 minutes of Hatha Yoga every day
than a one-time two hours session every week; do not overdo it in the beginning
because you do not want to last only a couple of weeks, you want to keep the
practice up for many years
· by maintaining the same time and location you establish a
benefic resonance that will help you a great deal in the long run; when the time
for yoga comes you will feel "magically" attracted to start practicing
· asanas executed in group are much more efficient than asanas
performed alone; the more people executing the same asana at once, the better;
responsible for this increased effect is the same "law of resonance", only in
this case 1 plus 1 gives more than 2
· do not forget to perform the relaxation pose after each asana
session
Kundalini
Black Magic
Reiki
Hindu Temple
Feng shui
Mantra
Tantra
Yantra
Puja
Palmistry
Dream Analysis
Intuitions
Kamasutra
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Spiritual healing
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12 Jyotir Ling
Religion
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Sanatana Dharma
Karma Yoga
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Mahabharata
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16 Sanakara
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