Hatha Yoga – The Alchemy of Energies

Human Body – A Wonder of Nature

Yoga is not an ancient myth buried in oblivion. It is the most valuable inheritance of the present. It is the essential need of today and the culture of tomorrow.

Swami Satyananda Saraswati

Yoga is the science of right living and, as such, is intended to be incorporated in daily life. It works on all aspects of the person: the physical, vital, mental, emotional, psychic, and spiritual. On a more practical level, yoga is a means of balancing and harmonizing the body, mind, and emotions. The balance is done through the practice of asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha, shatkarma, and meditation, and must be achieved before union can take place with the higher reality.

The science of yoga begins to work on the outermost aspect of the personality, the physical body, which for most people Is a practical and familiar starting point. When the imbalance is experienced at this level, the organs, muscles, and nerves no longer function in harmony; instead, they act in opposition to each other.

For instance, the endocrine system might become irregular, and the efficiency of the nervous system decrease to such an extent that a disease will manifest. Yoga aims at bringing the different bodily functions into perfect coordination so that they work for the good of the whole body.

If we are interested in natural health – overflowing energy – then we should experiment Hatha Yoga practices. Health is only a consequence, and new doors open in life, paying the necessary attention of the human body.

Hatha Yoga – Experience and Vision in Rishikesh, India – Foothills of Himalaya Mountains

Shatkarma – Self-Spa Services

Shatkarma ia a very precise and systematic science.The aim of Hatha Yoga and, therefore, of the shatkarmas is to create harmony between the two major pranic flows, ida and pingala. Also, many therapeutic benefits derive from shatkarma kriyas.

Kriyas

Jala Neti – Cleansing and purifying the nasal passage.
Benefits: maintain the good health of the ears, eyes, and throat; alleviates anxiety, anger, and depression, removes drowsiness, and makes the head feel light and fresh.
Laghoo Shankhaprakshalana – Short intestinal wash or TTK solution .
Benefits: Encourage normal functioning of the intestines, regulate digestive disorder and flush out the kidneys. Prevent constipation and related digestive problems. Make feel the body light and ensures a healthy intake of water first thing in the morning.
Kunjal Kriya – The practice of vomiting water
Benefits: Tones and stimulates all the abdominal organs by inducing strong muscular contractions in the stomach walls. Helps to release pent-up emotions and emotional blocks or feelings of heaviness in the heart caused by inner and external conflict and pressures.
Nauli – Abdominal massaging
Benefits: Massages and tones the entire abdominal area including the muscles, nerves, intestines, reproductive, urinary, and excretory organs. Purifies manipura chakra and increase mental clarity and power by harmonizing the energy flow in the body.
Vatkrama Kapalbhati – Frontal brain cleansing
Benefits: It has a cleansing effect on the lungs and is a good practice for respiratory disorders. It balances and strengthens the nervous system and tones the digestive organs. It purifies the nadis, and removes sensory distractions. It energizes the mind for mental work and removes sleepiness.
More kriyas available for the advanced level.

Pawanmuktasana Series and Yogasana

Pawanmuktasana is divided into three distinct groups of asanas: the anti – rheumatic group, the digestive/abdominal group and the shakti bandha group to release energy blocks. All three groups supplement each other, stimulating and encouraging a free flow of energy throughout the body.

Benefits: Group 1 – It is excellent for those debilitated by rheumatism, arthritis, high blood pressure, heart problems or other ailments where vigorous physical exercise is not advise. It improves coordination, self – awareness and self – confidence;

Benefits: Group 2 – It is excellent for people with indigestion, constipation, acidity, excess wind or gas, lack of appetite, diabetes, disorders of the male or female reproductive systems and varicose veins;

Benefits group 3 – is concerned with improving the energy flow within the body and breaking down neuro muscular knots . They also eliminate energy blockages in the spine, activate the lungs and heart, and improve endocrine function. The series is useful for those with reduced vitality and a stiff back and is especially useful for menstrual problems and toning the pelvic organs and muscles.

We tailor classes according to personal needs, which include yoga for eyes and beginners/ intermediate asanas. Only after a preparatory stage, we can start the exploration of yogasanas – Sivananda Yoga Sequence.

Yogasanas have often been thought of as a form of exercise. They are not exercises, but techniques which place the physical body in positions that cultivate awareness, relaxation, concentration and meditation.

Part of this process is the development of good physical health by stretching, massaging and stimulating the pranic channels and internal organs, so asana is complementary to exercise .

Before the difference between the two can be understood, it is necessary to know that exercise imposes a beneficial stress on the body . Without it the muscles waste, the bones become weak, the capacity to absorb oxygen decreases, insulin insensitivity can occur, and the ability to meet the physical demands of sudden activity is lost . There are several differences in the way asana and exercise affect body mechanisms.

When yogasanas are performed , respiration and metabolic rates slow down, the consumption of oxygen and the body temperature drop . During exercise, however, the breath and metabolism speed up, oxygen consumption rises, and the body gets hot . Yoga postures tend to arrest catabolism whereas exercise promotes it. In addition, asanas are designed to have specific effects on the glands and internal organs, and to alter electrochemical activity in the nervous system .

Surya Namaskara Kriya

The Sanskrit name Surya here refers to the sun and Namaskara means saluntations. In yoga the sun is represented by pingala or surya nadi , the pranic channel which carries the vital , life – giving force . It is an effective way of loosening up, stretching, massaging and toning all the joints, muscles and internal organs of the body .

Its versatility and application make it one of the most useful methods of inducing a healthy , vigorous and active life , while at the same time preparing for expansion of awareness.

Surya Namaskara Kriya is a complete practice, in itself for it includes asana, pranayama, mantra, and meditation techniques.

It is an excellent group of asanas with which to start morning practice. Surya Namaskara has a direct vitalizing effect on the solar energy of the body which flows through pingala nadi . Regular practice of surya namaskara regulates pingala nadi, whether it is underactive or overactive. Regulation of pingala nadi leads to a balanced energy system at both mental and physical levels. Surya Namaskara generates prana, the subtle energy which activates the psychic body.

Benefits:

It strengthens the back and helps balance the metabolism.
It stimulates and balances all the systems of the body, including the reproductive, circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems.
Its influence on the endocrine glands helps to balance the transition period between childhood and adolescence in growing children.
Synchronizing the breath with the physical movements of surya namaskara ensures that the practitioner, at least for a few minutes daily, breathes as deeply and rhythmically as possible, increasing mental clarity and focus by bringing fresh , oxygenated blood to the brain .

Stressless management
More energy for the work
Rejuvenation
Vitality
Wellbeing
Prepares one for deeper states of meditation.

Pranayama

Pranayama should not be considered as mere breathing exercises aimed at introducing extra oxygen into the lungs. Pranayama utilizes breathing to influence the flow of prana in the nadis or energy channels of the pranamaya kosha or energy body. Pranayama practices should be performed after asanas in an integrated yoga program.

The breath is the most vital process of the body. It influences the activities of each and every cell and , most importantly, is intimately linked with the performance of the brain. Human beings breathe about 15 times per minute and 21,600 times per day. Respiration fuels the burning of oxygen and glucose, producing energy to power every muscular contraction, glandular secretion and mental process. The breath is intimately linked to all aspects of human experience.

Most people breathe incorrectly, using only a small part of their lung capacity. The breathing is then generally shallow , depriving the body of oxygen and prana essential to its good health. The practices given in this program are preparatory techniques which introduce correct breathing habits. In addition, they help focus the awareness on the breathing process, which is otherwise normally ignored.

Practitioners develop sensitivity to the respiratory process and retrain the muscles of the pulmonary cavity, enhancing their vital capacity and preparing them for pranayama. Rhythmic, deep and slow respiration stimulates and is stimulated by calm, content, states of mind.

Irregular breathing disrupts the rhythms of the brain and leads to physical, emotional and mental blocks. These, in turn, lead to inner conflict, an unbalanced personality, a disordered lifestyle and disease.

Pranayama establishes regular breathing patterns, breaking this negative cycle and reversing the debilitating process. It does so by giving us control of the breath and re establishing the natural, relaxed rhythms of the body and mind .

Although breathing is mainly an unconscious process, conscious control of it may be taken at any time . Consequently , it forms a bridge between the conscious and unconscious areas of the mind.

Through the practice of pranayama, the energy trapped in neurotic , unconscious mental patterns may be released for use in more creative and joyful activity .

Supportive programs

Yogic Food and The Art of Mindful Cooking

Yoga Nidra – The Art of Relaxation

Meditation – The First and Last Freedom