Part One - What makes yoga, Yoga?
What is Yoga, and why are we doing it?
How are we feeling about the WHAT of Yoga?
Remember that we are talking about a state of being, not something that we do. When referring to practices and processes, we are talking about ways to realize this state of being. Our natural state, one of total union and harmony with the entirety of the cosmos, is never lost. We just forget. And many of the ways in which we engage with our yogic practices are actually continuing to engrain this pattern of "forgetting". What we are talking about is the forcing or straining that is all-too-common in many yoga classes; all-pervasive conditions of our society that have us constantly seeking and striving. If we observe with a keen eye the ways in which we engage in our yoga practice, we can start to see this karmic pattern playing out. We can see our tendencies to rush, to force, to try to control the body and make it do something beyond its natural limit. This is the micro-cosmic reflection of what we have done to our planet. What we want to do is reverse this process. We do not intend to strengthen the neuroses we have - we want to be free of them! Please understand this.
Our yoga practice, when executed with the appropriate intention and mindfulness, has the potential to heal these patternistic tendencies. Tendencies that, many times, we barely even realize that we are doing. We are inviting awareness, and through awareness, healing.
It is very important to consider the vast difference between calisthenics and gymnastics training, and an actual yoga practice. If you are a yoga teacher and are reading this, hopefully you know what we are referring to. If we continue to practice in a way that is striving, seeking, achieving, we are perpetuating generations-old karmic chains that directly influence how we relate to, and navigate within, the world around us. There is no right or wrong here - there is only awareness around which reality we are willing to feed. To wish for peace is to drop the struggle against that which is not peace. A simple concept, but to apply in practice is the real work. We invite reflection on these ideas for anyone to consider, and especially those who practice regularly. HOW we practice is far more important than WHAT.
Please review any necessary writings, or drop them altogether if any of our information feels too heady or is not landing anywhere. It is our wish to remain rooted in what is practical, and discard anything that might end up being a distraction from our goal. Which is simply to do the practices and then decide for ourselves what is the truth! We are after the production of a specific internal effect by applying the alchemy that comes from traditional Tantric, Kundalini and Hatha Yoga systems. At our current period of history, much of this information is being made widely available, and as the spiritual scientists we are, we are interested in becoming the modern originators of Yoga. Because remember – atha yoganusasanam – “Now, begins Yoga”. The question ought to be - how can we practice in such a way that we are embodying the Here-Now moment? Breath-centric principles which have been passed to us from our previous teachers have been extremely helpful towards this endeavor.
Breath-centric principles help us "Embody the Spirit". To breathe in is to inspire - to be in-spirit.
We are just grateful that we have history lessons and documentation from those who’ve come before us and have left footprints to follow, to make our process a little easier! Hence, we are making every effort we can to carry forward this lineage of truth-seekers and wisdom activators. The actual potentials for true human spiritual transformation and enlightenment are embedded within all of us. What an exciting time indeed!
Technical Breakdown - the Five Principles of BTGY Practice
By now, we will transition from the philosophical into what is more practical, as it is important that we ground heady concepts into a technical framework that can then be applied. We will expand on some of the technical aspects of our practices at BTGY. These are key points which we are continually refining as we progress in the practice setting. Thus, the five basic principles that weave their way into every practice we do are as follows:
1) Inhale above, exhale below. Inhale above, expand the heart, lungs and ribcage away from the hips. Exhale below, draw the abdomen in and feel how this creates more space for the lungs to receive the next inhale. Repeat. Relax and open yourself to RECEIVE the IN breath, GIVE yourself fully to the OUT breath. Feel the slight firming and inward draw of the abdomen during exhalation, maintaining a slight inward pull to send the inhale upward, causing an expansion/opening across the chest during the inhalation. More advanced practitioners will start inviting feelings such as the sensation of a downward “pouring” into the base of the spine, down the legs and into the toes on the exhalation. Contrast to the downward pour of the exhalation, on the inhalation, we experience the sensation of pulling upward through the arms, into the fingers and up the throat to the head. As the system becomes more ecstatically conductive, there are inner body sensations that accompany both the upward movement of energy on the in-breath and the downward movement on the out-breath. When the breath is developed using this first principle, the mechanisms of bandha become more apparent, which become foundational for the advancing yoga practitioner.
2) Body movement is the breath movement. Consider the fact that it is the breath that moves the body, not the other way around. Change the relationship from being the one who is breathing, to being with that which breathes you. Remember that our first breath as an infant was not something that we “took”. We received this first in-breath – a gift from life. Our lungs were filled due to the negative pressure between us and our environment. This is continuing on to this day, and will continue until we expire our final breath. Which is, of course, us giving ourselves back over to life. The Spirit (in-spirit-ation – to breathe in, or to be in-spired) lives within us for a time. What we do with this is up to us. HOW we move our bodies according to this is a key aspect of our practice. Instead of trying to control the body using the mind, allow the breath to inform the body where and with how much intensity to move.
3) Breath encompasses movement. Allow yourself to begin breathing before movement of the body. Provide ample space for the breath to do its thing, and listen closely for the subtle cues of the body as it naturally wants to follow the space that is made through the breath. Advanced practitioners may use the intention of their mind to visualize the body moving in space ahead of the actual movement itself, and allow the breath to be the wayshower. The breath goes first, then the body follows as an after-thought. The movement is completed, and the breath continues with a little tail. There is an acceleration and deceleration phase. Say a body movement or vinyasa takes approximately 8 seconds to complete, from its first initial movement to the complete stopping point of the body, then the first and last second are breath only. Breath starts, body movement takes place, body movement ends, breath finishes. Breath encompasses the movement, or in other words, the movement fits within the container of the breath. Allow the body to be inside of the breath. To practice with this principle forces a level of honesty and attentiveness within the mindbody system of the practitioner, and this rewrites the typical patterns that are in place, especially patterns of rushing or forcing. Pay close attention; notice these tendencies.
4) Four parts to the breath. There are four distinct phases to every breath cycle. We will break them down using Sanskrit terms. They are as follows: inhalation (puraka), pause after inhalation (antar kumbhaka), exhalation (rechaka), pause after exhalation (bahir kumbhaka). The pauses are called breath retention, or kumbhaka, which kumbha is a Sanskrit word meaning “vessel” or “vase”. Breath retention has the specific and powerful effect of the build up of carbon dioxide in the blood, which is subtly related to the distribution of prana in the body and the purification of the nadis (rivers) which are the channels that consciousness moves through our vessel. Learning how to notice this cycle of breath is a key to our yoking of mind and body. Practicing with a distinct pause in the breath cycle offers us the chance to let the mind “sink in” to the body. It slows us down, it calms the nervous system, and it regulates the often scattered life energies, giving them a chance to settle. The stillness found in the space between the breath becomes a doorway for our meditation practices, and one can begin to cultivate their meditative awareness throughout the various phases of a yoga practice, from asana and vinyasa on into meditation.
Additionally, we will also start to experience the subtle effect of bandha that arises as a natural result of our being aware of the what that takes places inwardly during retention processes, such as in an exhale retention during a forward folding posture, where we see the natural lift of the abdomen into uddiyana bandha. In our Kriya Yoga practices (such as Spinal Breathing Pranayama), we amplify the effects of these natural phenomenon and learn to “ride the wave”, so to speak, of the flow of natural intelligence in our body. In Yoga, we refer to this “riding of the wave” as ishvara pranidhana, which is “surrender to the Divine”. The Divine here is then referring to our ability to trust and lean into the flow that moves through us, and to become sensitive to this life energy. An example of this is discovered when a practitioner relaxes into the end of the exhalation, pausing, waiting for the inhalation to arrive. Oftentimes, and especially in beginning practitioners, there is the rising urgency to take the next breath. Learning how to soften and trust that life will breathe you, may be a deeply spiritual insight, but it is one that creates a profound inner alchemical affect, such that the pause between the breaths becomes longer and the nervous system can settle down even further. This has a cascading effect throughout our entire neurobiology. The pause between breaths cannot and should not be underestimated.
5) Breath is the same during vinyasa as in static. We keep the established intensity, duration, and ratio of the breath the same when transitioning from vinyasa into a static hold. What we mean here is that, whatever form the breath takes in dynamic movement, when we switch into a static position, maintain this breath. Ratio, intensity, duration should be the same , as if you were still flowing. Allow the movement of energy to occur WITHIN the body. Become sensitive to its flow.
Note: It is useful to observe that the previous four principles can still be applied to seated breathing techniques, which are the fundamental practices that we blossom into. This fifth principle is more exclusive physical asanas and vinyasa
This concludes the Five Principles of Practice.
More specific discussions on yogic concepts such as pranayama, bandha, and mudra may arise as we proceed, and according to the emerging needs of each practitioner. These are concepts that often require in-person communication, and it is wise to seek out a practitioner who is familiar with them, should one need additional assistance. We are establishing the techniques that we will work with which will carry us forward for many, many years of effective sadhana. Many of the nuances in these practices emerge as a living wisdom, and one that is only possible through consistent practice. This is why we are intent towards the development of the platform and resources for a broader network and community of practitioners. We wish to offer sound principles which keep us safe and honest so that, no matter where we are in our journey, we can benefit from these suggestions. Only take in and work with the additional information that resonates. Regardless of where we stand on our spiritual path, practicing according to these principles is a way that will help us align our body, mind and breath. If we wish to refine our sensitivity, as well as the subtle quality of our neutral mind, the Witness, then the BTGY practice principles are a tried-and-true methodology for these developments. These Five Principles will ensure that our experience leans more towards yoga than an experience that is merely stretching, or physical exercise.
Practicing in these ways with diligence and enthusiasm is our mission, as we are here to alter generations-old karmic patterns that are lodged all the way down into cellular memory of our body, causing us to want to fight and strain against the body and force it to do what we think we want it to do. Yoga just means union! It is union with body, mind, breath, and thus life itself. We cannot coerce life, just like we cannot force a flower to bloom. We can water and nurture the soil, and trust the process. Such is our spiritual path.
We are learning how to listen, to be sensitive, to trust, to allow. It is strength receiving. The feminine and masculine joining together in sacred union. The harmony of the entire cosmos is emerging through us, as us, and these yoga practices are the way that we actualize this experience. It is Shiva-Shakti, yin-yang, inhalation-meets-exhalation in a never-ending cycle of giving and receiving Love. If there is a destiny for humankind, it may possible that this is key step to the evolution of that destiny. It only makes sense!
Part TWO – WHERE did Yoga come from?
It is implied after reflecting so far in this discussion that YOGA emerges from within all of us. We ARE the Yoga, as the joining of opposites, as the sperm-egg combination that gave rise to our life. This essence is within all of us. However, beyond this philosophical discussion, it may be useful for us to study the actual historical context of Yoga in the first place. Depending on how much time we have, we may begin to dive into this information tonight, on 10/16. The concept to really integrate for this discussion is the idea that by understanding the history of the lineage, we understand the magnitude of our involvement in it.
Example: if you do something every day for a long time, you will refine your ability to accomplish that task. And when someone else comes along and starts doing that same thing, you can see where the pitfalls are and help guide this person accordingly, thus shortening their timeline to wisdom. It is a telescoping affect of time. Whatever the task is, your refined skillful activity of it can be passed on and benefit the next generation greatly, saving them time and effort. The Golden Lineage is the one of wisdom-seekers since time immemorable. People who have gone before us to try to figure out this crazy thing called life. Good thing for us, there are many instances of these individuals - many saints, sages and masters have shown us a great deal of extraordinary things through their lives. This wisdom has passed from teacher to disciple over many eons.
To take this further, imagine that you ARE the enlightened One - Christ, Buddha, Patanjali, whichever ascended master you prefer - imagine that this being exists within you, as the highest potential available to you in this lifetime. And imagine that being has been passing you signals and teachings your whole life, guiding you to this place and that place and generally nudging you in the direction of wisdom, light and truth. The angel on the shoulder, so-to-speak, guiding you away from the forces of darkness and ignorance. The more we listen to this being, the more we move towards that light. The more we telescope the timeline. The quicker we move towards that which we truly desire.
What has happened is that this being is the same guiding force that is bringing us all together. It is the same force that inspires our practice, motivates us and drives us towards stepping onto the mat to participate in our own evolution. Towards goodness. Towards Love. Towards whatever higher potential we are holding in our visions.
To understand that the Adi-Yogi - the original Yogi - is actually YOU is the point we are trying to make. And when we study history and apply this sort of understanding to what we are learning and seeing historically... insight will jump out to us. We can see that history repeats itself, so which lessons can we observe through our study of it?
May all sincere seekers awaken to the truth of their own being. OM!
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