Zephyr Yoga Podcast

In last weeks practice we started the journey through the 7 stages of Yoga with Self Awareness. This is where our light of intelligence (Prajna) and our intuitive Wisdom (Buddhi) gathered insight into what is arising in practice in the form of thought, emotions and sensations. In our practice we were consciously shaping the breath to guide the mind to recognise the true self. With direct recognition now attained, the next stage is to understand what is seen, felt and experienced. We are seekers, suggesting that there is a yearning to learn more, to recall past experiences, access the intellect to figure things out and draw on that knowledge to make wise decisions that are aligned to our known purpose. 

Yoga is a state of mind, not something to do, it’s a work in, not a work out. So when we practice creating a pose, refining the mind to rest on the breath, sensation and light. We notice stuff arise in the form of thought, emotion and sensation. We do have the opportunity to understand WHY this is percolating up. HOW does it express itself. WHERE are you experiencing it. HOW old is it? WHAT is it trying to tell you? WHAT colour, shape, image, sensation is it? See, listen and be open to receive what needs to be expressed, seen and heard.

I will offer you a map that has been useful in Asana practice. The map is based on the Granthis – the Physical, Psycho-Emotional Knots we hold in all of us. With the Granthis as a focus we will need to address the Chakras and open specific ones in deep meditation. What you experience in wakeful states is the Granthis releasing, opening and reshaping. These “knots” inhibit a healthy pranic flow of intelligence and function in these Chakra centres.

To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here.

To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, please donate here.

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The first stage of Yoga is Self Awareness. This begins the invitation to change, to be present and to be conscious. If you think about it, most of our day is spent unconscious, lost in thought and entertaining the Doer-ship of our existence. This first step engages our light of intellect (Prajna) and our innate wisdom (Buddhi) to dissolve the veil of ignorance (Avidya) and expand our perspective to what is really going on in any given moment. 

We use our practice as the opportunity to have an honest self-reflection on the distorted negative illusions we recycle, then open to more positive truths. Self-honesty is an honest look at ourselves preparing us to be humble, compassionate and regain our serenity, this develops trust in ourselves to make wiser decision from a place of knowing what is truly important to us. 

The goal of working through these stages is to arrive to Citta Vritti Nirodha – Stilling the roaming tendencies of our heart mind. First we need to become aware of those tendencies, issues, disturbances and habits that cause the Citta to roam. As we practice listening to Buddhi, making informed decisions using Prajna we recognise the pain and suffering that is present. We become aware of our bias, judgements, insanity, habitual patterns and our “stuff”. Sutra 2.27 states that Self-Awareness is the first step to liberation as we heighten our awareness of the human condition of what is going on to cause the Citta to wander. To read more and to practice online with Zephyr Wildman, click here.

To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, please donate here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.