Lesson 23: Online education in Yoga by Sri Prashant S Iyengar

The speaker starts with the mention of the third kind of meditation mentioned in the 7th limb of aṣṭānga yoga, which is dhyāna. The yogic process of meditation is directly linked and connected to prāṇayāma. Prāṇayāma is the gateway to dhyāna. Sūtra mentions, dhārṇāsu ca yogyatā manasaḥ. Prāṇayāma makes the mind suitable, compatible for dhārna, dhyāna and samādhi processes. Patañjali relates āsanas with prāṇayāma … 'tasmin sati' meaning thereafter; after dvandva anābhighātaḥ condition is attained. It is a pre-requisition. Āsanas are pre requisites for prāṇayāma. This lesson is about the classical approach to learning yoga/prāṇayāma. Emphasis is placed on: 1. Understanding the importance of āsanas for prāṇayāma practices. This is an initiation to qualify for prāṇayāma. Āsanas open out an entire network of breathing passages. Study of breath circulatory system which is not available in study of body sciences. 2. There are other means to steady the mind; like a sunset or tranquilisers. But that is not what is implied here. The Mind should have a particular state to embark upon prāṇayāma. And this can be done through āsanas. This is the classical approach. 3. Prāṇayāma is not about the control of the respiratory breath. The purpose is extra-respiratory. It is about exalted inhalations, inscriptive inhalations; it is about slow and penetrative exhalations; it is about hypo normal and hyper normal breaths. Not just deep breaths but slower breaths. Oxygen needs to go all over the body. That happens via media of the breath. Oxygen gets into blood and then is supplied to all the cells through the circulatory system. 4. Yoga recognises the ‘breath circulatory system’. Some part of our āsana practice should be devoted to address breath as a benefactor and beneficiary. A practical aspect of this lesson includes practice of āsanas of different sthitis such as the, supine, forward bending, upright, inverted etc. Namely, supta virāsana, adhomukha virāsana, virāsana, tādāsana, sīrsāsana, uttāna padma mayurāsana. Here abdominal surgeries are suggested by, combing, ploughing, scraping etc. with exhalation. Also use of abdominal mannerisms are suggested for uddiyāna kriyā and uddiyāna mudrā. To Exhale with brain confinement, with eyes confinement, nose confinement etc. Exhale unusual volumes. This is a very important exercise to be carried out. It will involve every organ and every cell. You will discover ‘breath vessels’. Starting with 5-10%, you will slowly be able to open out a field of study. Use this fascinating approach. See how mind can contribute to breath. To establish relationship between mind and breath. To understand the difference between sniffing the inhalation and taking the inhalation.