"Prana Vidya is an advanced yogic practice distilled from the classical traditions and developed in the Satyananda Yoga system. It involves a deep exploration of prana,the life force,and develops the ability to channel this under-lying principles of existence.Not only does the practice allow access to subtle levels of consciousness,but it is also an effective healing method."
I worked on these exercises for the IYT Yoga Therapy Internship with Lisa, a yoga teacher, before her class yesterday.
I am not sure where Joseph and Lilian Le Page got these exercises from. I don't know if they developed them from practices at Kripalu, from the Bihar School or put them together themselves.
I have used some of them in yoga therapy sessions and therapeutic classes but this is the first time I have used them together as a system.
Lisa is an advanced practitioner of yoga with a strong pranayama practice. It took us about an hour to and 15 minutes go through these exercises. I checked in with her between each one.
PRANA VIDYA WARM UP EXERCISES - GROUP 1: WHOLE BODY BREATHING
a) Full Body Breathing (Balloon Breathing) Feel the whole body gently expand on the inhalation like a soft balloon, as if breathing through every pore. On the exhalation, soften the body back in toward its center.
b) Body-Part Breathing
Take the breath to specific body parts and expand each one separately, as in Balloon Breathing.
c) Psychic Heart Breath
Inhale through the psychic heart on the right side of the chest and expand the whole body as in Balloon Breathing, or direct the energy to a particular part of the body as in Body-Part Breathing.
d) Third Eye Breathing
Inhale through the third eye (ajña chakra) at the center of the forehead and expand
the whole body as in Balloon Breathing, or direct the energy to a particular part of the
body as in Body-Part Breathing. Be careful not to tense or strain the head, neck, or
eyes in any way. This breath is subtle and unforced. If any strain or headache occurs,
return to the previous breathing techniques.
e) Third Eye to Heart Breathing
Bring prana from ajña to anahata on the inhalation and from anahata to the affected
body part on the exhalation. You may also bring prana from ajña to the healing hand,
and from the healing hand to the affected body part on yourself or another.
f) Third Eye Activation Breathing
Inhale through the third eye at the center of the forehead and expand the whole body
as in Balloon Breathing, carrying the breath and prana out into the whole body or into a
specific body part. On the exhalation, draw the breath back into the third eye, charging
it with energy.
g) Cell Breathing
Breathe in through the center of the cells. Feel as if the breath originates from the very center of each cell of the body. On the exhalation, rest the breath back into the center of the cell.
Lisa very relaxed through the Whole Body Breathing Exercises and was able to easily do each of the exercises in this set.
PRANA VIDYA WARM EXERCISES - GROUP 2: BREATHING INTO THE PLANES OF THE BODY
a) Side to Side
Divide the body down the middle from left to right. Practice any of the Whole Body
Breathing techniques on just the right side of the body. Notice the feelings and sensations on this side of the body. Notice any colors that appear with the breath and energy. Now, change your focus to the left side of the body and experience sensations and color there. Compare the two sides of
the body.
Lisa said she couldn't verbally explain the differences between the sides of the body but she definitely felt them. She didn't see strong colors but she may have accessed a pinkish/red on the right and a yellow on the left.
b) Front to Back
Like Side to Side, but divide the body between front and back.
She felt very centered on the front. On the back she felt more sensations than she said she is usually aware of.
c) Top to Bottom
Like Side to Side, but divide the body between top and bottom.
Because she was sitting down she decided to divide the body at the waist. She says she feels much more comfort and connection to the upper part of the body than the lower. The upper chakras is where she says she lives in and she would like to develop the lower chakras especially the 2nd chakra. She said she did feel breathing in the sacrum.
d) Alternate Nostril Body Breathing
Inhale up through the left side of the body through the left toes, the left fingers and palm, and left nostril. Notice the color of the breath and energy as it ascends up the left side of the body. Take the body feeling over to the right side of the body and exhale down through the right nostril, right
hand and palm, and sole of the right foot. Notice the color of the breath and energy on the exhalation. Continue breathing from side to side. You may also include a natural retention of the breath at the top of the inhalation and a natural suspension of the breath at the end of the exhalation.
She saw a spiral in the form of a yellowish green coil coiling around the body. She liked this practice very much.
e) Front to Back Body Breathing (Microcosmic Orbit)
Inhale up from the pelvic floor to the crown of the head. Notice the color of the breath and energy as it ascends up the front of the body. Exhale down the back of the body, taking energy into the pelvic floor and charging this area with prana. Notice the sensation and color of the prana as it descends down the spine. On the next inhalation, continue the cycle back up the front of the body. You may also include a natural retention of the breath at the top of the inhalation and a natural suspension of
the breath at the end of the exhalation.
She found this practice very relaxing
PRANA VIDYA WARM UP EXERCISES - GROUP 3: AWARENESS OF THE FIVE PRANAVAYUS
a) Prana – upward movement of energy on the inhalation; focus in the chest.
b) Apana – downward movement of energy on the exhalation; focus in the pelvis.
c) Samana – outward movement from the abdomen on the inhalation and inward movement toward the center of the abdomen on the exhalation; focus from the navel to the solar plexus.
d) Udana – circular movement of energy in the throat and head; focus in the throat.
e) Vyana – brings prana from the core to the extremities; focus in the arms and legs.
f) Pranavayu Chaitanya – visualize all the vayus as synchronously flowing waves of light particles.
g) Prana and Apana Meet at Samana – sense the meeting of prana and apana at the center of the body.
Lisa was comfortable with all these practices. I checked in with her with each vayu asking her if she had found it and when she said yes I gave her another minute to experience it, She that Prana and Apana meet at Samana was similar to a Tibetan practice she had learned years ago with some variations that she explained to me.
PRANA VIDYA EXERCISES GROUP 4. HEALING THE HEART WITH PRANA
a) Complete Warm Ups 1 to 3
b) Draw the breath into your heart center on the inhalation, and on the exhalation, take
the breath down into the palms, which are turned upward. As the prana fills the
hands, allow them to float slowly up into the air. You may begin the movement
consciously, but then you will find that by relaxing deeply, the hands will begin to rise
on their own.
c) Allow the hands to rise up toward your own heart and sense the pulsating cushion of
energy around your heart. Allow the hands to rest on this cushion of energy and sense
the nurturing and recharging of your own heart.
d) Now, slowly allow your right hand to turn toward your partner’s heart and come to a
place resting on their chest. The left hand can descend back onto your knee or lap.
Each partner can place the other’s hand in the correct position over the energetic
heart, which is on the right side of the chest. Exchange prana by inhaling through
your own heart and exhaling down through your arm and hand into your partner’s
heart. Synchronize the breath and sense the experience of giving and receiving
prana evenly and equally. Continue this for 5-10 breaths.
e) Release the hands in slow motion and come back to sitting with both hands resting
upward on the knees or in the lap, continuing with the whole body breath.
f) Bring the hands in anjali mudra in front of the heart and chant the sound of OM
together. Open the eyes and bow to your partner.
We both really enjoyed this last set up exercises and we felt the breath moving through are hands to each others hearts and syncing up the breath. Lisa was so interested in the exercises she asked me for a copy of the practice.
My main questions would be was it ok that I stopped between each one and checked in. I didn't have her open her eyes I just checked in. I think it was necessary in order to do the assignment and also to make sure the partner is there with you and not lost. I would love more feedback about that. I would like to do this group of exercises some more. I may record them for myself so I can attempt to practice on myself.
I am very interested in prana, pranayama and prana vidya. I would like to get more mastery of these practices. When I am done with IYT I will take the pranayama and meditation training with the Yoga Academy of North America she I can get a better understand of all of this work that excites me very much. I am also excited to see what Module 7 will be like in August.
I worked on these exercises for the IYT Yoga Therapy Internship with Lisa, a yoga teacher, before her class yesterday.
I am not sure where Joseph and Lilian Le Page got these exercises from. I don't know if they developed them from practices at Kripalu, from the Bihar School or put them together themselves.
I have used some of them in yoga therapy sessions and therapeutic classes but this is the first time I have used them together as a system.
Lisa is an advanced practitioner of yoga with a strong pranayama practice. It took us about an hour to and 15 minutes go through these exercises. I checked in with her between each one.
PRANA VIDYA WARM UP EXERCISES - GROUP 1: WHOLE BODY BREATHING
a) Full Body Breathing (Balloon Breathing) Feel the whole body gently expand on the inhalation like a soft balloon, as if breathing through every pore. On the exhalation, soften the body back in toward its center.
b) Body-Part Breathing
Take the breath to specific body parts and expand each one separately, as in Balloon Breathing.
c) Psychic Heart Breath
Inhale through the psychic heart on the right side of the chest and expand the whole body as in Balloon Breathing, or direct the energy to a particular part of the body as in Body-Part Breathing.
d) Third Eye Breathing
Inhale through the third eye (ajña chakra) at the center of the forehead and expand
the whole body as in Balloon Breathing, or direct the energy to a particular part of the
body as in Body-Part Breathing. Be careful not to tense or strain the head, neck, or
eyes in any way. This breath is subtle and unforced. If any strain or headache occurs,
return to the previous breathing techniques.
e) Third Eye to Heart Breathing
Bring prana from ajña to anahata on the inhalation and from anahata to the affected
body part on the exhalation. You may also bring prana from ajña to the healing hand,
and from the healing hand to the affected body part on yourself or another.
f) Third Eye Activation Breathing
Inhale through the third eye at the center of the forehead and expand the whole body
as in Balloon Breathing, carrying the breath and prana out into the whole body or into a
specific body part. On the exhalation, draw the breath back into the third eye, charging
it with energy.
g) Cell Breathing
Breathe in through the center of the cells. Feel as if the breath originates from the very center of each cell of the body. On the exhalation, rest the breath back into the center of the cell.
Lisa very relaxed through the Whole Body Breathing Exercises and was able to easily do each of the exercises in this set.
PRANA VIDYA WARM EXERCISES - GROUP 2: BREATHING INTO THE PLANES OF THE BODY
a) Side to Side
Divide the body down the middle from left to right. Practice any of the Whole Body
Breathing techniques on just the right side of the body. Notice the feelings and sensations on this side of the body. Notice any colors that appear with the breath and energy. Now, change your focus to the left side of the body and experience sensations and color there. Compare the two sides of
the body.
Lisa said she couldn't verbally explain the differences between the sides of the body but she definitely felt them. She didn't see strong colors but she may have accessed a pinkish/red on the right and a yellow on the left.
b) Front to Back
Like Side to Side, but divide the body between front and back.
She felt very centered on the front. On the back she felt more sensations than she said she is usually aware of.
c) Top to Bottom
Like Side to Side, but divide the body between top and bottom.
Because she was sitting down she decided to divide the body at the waist. She says she feels much more comfort and connection to the upper part of the body than the lower. The upper chakras is where she says she lives in and she would like to develop the lower chakras especially the 2nd chakra. She said she did feel breathing in the sacrum.
d) Alternate Nostril Body Breathing
Inhale up through the left side of the body through the left toes, the left fingers and palm, and left nostril. Notice the color of the breath and energy as it ascends up the left side of the body. Take the body feeling over to the right side of the body and exhale down through the right nostril, right
hand and palm, and sole of the right foot. Notice the color of the breath and energy on the exhalation. Continue breathing from side to side. You may also include a natural retention of the breath at the top of the inhalation and a natural suspension of the breath at the end of the exhalation.
She saw a spiral in the form of a yellowish green coil coiling around the body. She liked this practice very much.
e) Front to Back Body Breathing (Microcosmic Orbit)
Inhale up from the pelvic floor to the crown of the head. Notice the color of the breath and energy as it ascends up the front of the body. Exhale down the back of the body, taking energy into the pelvic floor and charging this area with prana. Notice the sensation and color of the prana as it descends down the spine. On the next inhalation, continue the cycle back up the front of the body. You may also include a natural retention of the breath at the top of the inhalation and a natural suspension of
the breath at the end of the exhalation.
She found this practice very relaxing
PRANA VIDYA WARM UP EXERCISES - GROUP 3: AWARENESS OF THE FIVE PRANAVAYUS
a) Prana – upward movement of energy on the inhalation; focus in the chest.
b) Apana – downward movement of energy on the exhalation; focus in the pelvis.
c) Samana – outward movement from the abdomen on the inhalation and inward movement toward the center of the abdomen on the exhalation; focus from the navel to the solar plexus.
d) Udana – circular movement of energy in the throat and head; focus in the throat.
e) Vyana – brings prana from the core to the extremities; focus in the arms and legs.
f) Pranavayu Chaitanya – visualize all the vayus as synchronously flowing waves of light particles.
g) Prana and Apana Meet at Samana – sense the meeting of prana and apana at the center of the body.
Lisa was comfortable with all these practices. I checked in with her with each vayu asking her if she had found it and when she said yes I gave her another minute to experience it, She that Prana and Apana meet at Samana was similar to a Tibetan practice she had learned years ago with some variations that she explained to me.
PRANA VIDYA EXERCISES GROUP 4. HEALING THE HEART WITH PRANA
a) Complete Warm Ups 1 to 3
b) Draw the breath into your heart center on the inhalation, and on the exhalation, take
the breath down into the palms, which are turned upward. As the prana fills the
hands, allow them to float slowly up into the air. You may begin the movement
consciously, but then you will find that by relaxing deeply, the hands will begin to rise
on their own.
c) Allow the hands to rise up toward your own heart and sense the pulsating cushion of
energy around your heart. Allow the hands to rest on this cushion of energy and sense
the nurturing and recharging of your own heart.
d) Now, slowly allow your right hand to turn toward your partner’s heart and come to a
place resting on their chest. The left hand can descend back onto your knee or lap.
Each partner can place the other’s hand in the correct position over the energetic
heart, which is on the right side of the chest. Exchange prana by inhaling through
your own heart and exhaling down through your arm and hand into your partner’s
heart. Synchronize the breath and sense the experience of giving and receiving
prana evenly and equally. Continue this for 5-10 breaths.
e) Release the hands in slow motion and come back to sitting with both hands resting
upward on the knees or in the lap, continuing with the whole body breath.
f) Bring the hands in anjali mudra in front of the heart and chant the sound of OM
together. Open the eyes and bow to your partner.
We both really enjoyed this last set up exercises and we felt the breath moving through are hands to each others hearts and syncing up the breath. Lisa was so interested in the exercises she asked me for a copy of the practice.
My main questions would be was it ok that I stopped between each one and checked in. I didn't have her open her eyes I just checked in. I think it was necessary in order to do the assignment and also to make sure the partner is there with you and not lost. I would love more feedback about that. I would like to do this group of exercises some more. I may record them for myself so I can attempt to practice on myself.
I am very interested in prana, pranayama and prana vidya. I would like to get more mastery of these practices. When I am done with IYT I will take the pranayama and meditation training with the Yoga Academy of North America she I can get a better understand of all of this work that excites me very much. I am also excited to see what Module 7 will be like in August.
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