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Surya Namaskar With Mantra

Classical surya namaskar is a traditional cycle of 12 asanas performed sequentially. The essential purpose of this practice is to awaken and expand your inner life force. There are different variations of how you can achieve this. This article focuses only on the mantra version of surya namaskar.

There are 12 surya namaskar mantras to be chanted – one for each of the 12 postures – and the focus is on the sound and vibration of the different chants. When chanted clearly and loudly in one breath, the effect of deep breathing is achieved. The breath slows down naturally as the practice becomes more contemplative. It raises the practice from the level of the body and mind to one of spirituality.

Each chant focuses on awakening the energy flow to a specific area of the body. All 12 mantras begin with AUM – the universal mantra – and each line of the mantra invokes a different aspect of the solar energy to which you connect your mind through that vibration of the sound and the posture. The sequence is demonstrated below:

follow the first three minutes of this YouTube video to see this practice. (The video also includes an additional practice of surya namaskar with SO-HUM mantra, for those also interested in this variation).

How to remember surya namaskar mantra

The easiest way to learn the surya namaskar mantra is to remember that each line starts with AUM and ends with NAMAHA, and in between is the name of the different aspect of the sun-energy you are connecting to through that vibration of the sound and the posture.

Another way is to sit down and visualise each posture while chanting the mantra – you can record the words from many internet sources; but the best way is to regularly practice the postures together with the mantra so that you learn to associate each movement with the appropriate words. The more you practice, the more spontaneous each mantra will arise as you perform the posture. There is no shortcut – you simply need to practice.

How surya namaskar is incorporated into our 200-hour YTTC

In our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Course, we introduce the 12 surya namaskar mantra concept. The students learn the words of the chant by practicing with the teacher and become aware of the mantra as they visualise the posture. The next step is for the teacher to chant while performing the pose, and the students follow; finally, the teacher and students chant together as they perform the postures. This process helps them to remember the chant and gives them the experience of the mantra and posture combination.

How surya namaskar is incorporated into our 300-hour YTTC

In our 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training Course, we develop the practice of the 12 surya namaskar mantra so that students chant with the teacher for a longer time, and at the end of the practice, remain standing, simply chanting the mantra. In the silence following the completion of the practice, students experience how their prana (their energy) is flowing throughout their bodies. Many students have remarked on the sense of peace they feel at the end of this practice.

CONCLUSION

Chanting all kinds of mantras – including the 12 surya namaskar mantra – is integral to every yoga program and class held at the Vedic Yoga Centre. Every aspect of yoga taught at the Vedic Yoga Centre has only one purpose – to bring your mind into the present moment. Mantra is just one of these practices.

If you want to chant with us at the Vedic Yoga Centre, you can join our different yoga programs. You can select from a short retreat, such as a beginner yoga and meditation course, or a more extended program, such as our 200-hour YTTC.

What Is Beej Mantra?

Beej mantras are considered to be the most basic mantras because they contain only one syllable. They are known as seed mantras because they are the root of all longer Vedic mantras. When combined with longer mantras the power of a seed mantra increases.

The Mother of all mantras is the single-syllable AUM. This is believed to be the first sound from which all other sounds arise. Other well-known beej mantras include Aim, Hreem, Kleem, Shrim, Trim, Dham. They may be small, but each sound contains many words within itself.

A beej mantra is also attached to each major chakra within the human body.

Root chakra (muladhara) – LAM

LAM is the beej mantra for your root chakra (located at the base of spine). It represents the earth element within you. Chanting LAM while focusing on this chakra helps keep you linked to the earth, the Mother of everything in nature. It offers a sense of security in the world. When this chakra becomes balanced through constant chanting of Lam you feel stable, secure and grounded.

Sacral chakra – (swadisthana) – VAM

VAM is the beej mantra for your sacral chakra (located around your reproductive organs). It represents the water element within you. Chanting VAM while focusing on this chakra helps balance the water element. It allows you to embrace life’s challenges and creates openness and trust with others. It also demonstrates appropriately controlled sexuality.

Solar plexus chakra – (manipura) – RAM

RAM is the beej mantra for the solar plexus chakra (located around the navel). It represents the fire element within you. Chanting RAM while focusing on this chakra helps your digestive fire and enhances your power. It helps to eliminate negativity and improves trust in yourself. It is characterised by assertiveness and co-operation.

Heart chakra – (anahata) – YAM

YAM is the beej mantra for the heart chakra (located at the base of the chest). It represents the air element within you. Chanting YAM while focusing on this chakra helps you to open your heart. You only truly begin your inner journey when your actions arise from this chakra. Awakening anahata helps to develop forgiveness, emotional maturity, creativity, compassion and unconditional love towards others.

Throat chakra – (vishuddhi) – HAM

HAM is the beej mantra for throat chakra (located in the neck region). It represents the space element within you. Chanting HAM while focusing on this chakra helps you express yourself and communicate with others. It gives you the courage to speak your truth and is characterised by trust, devotion, and surrender, bringing balance between your thoughts, words and actions.

Third Eye chakra – (agya) – AUM

AUM is the beej mantra for the Third Eye chakra (located between the eyebrows). This chakra is beyond the five elements of nature. It is your 6^th sense, and looks inward rather than outward. Chanting AUM while focusing on this chakra helps to awaken your discriminative intellect, inner vision, and higher intuitive wisdom, which arises from your own experiences. It clarifies your purpose and helps connect you to your inner peace and joy. When mastery over this centre is reached, the Mother of all mantras, Aum, is heard within, and connection between a teacher and student no longer requires verbal communication.

Crown chakra – (sahasrara) – SILENCE

There is no seed mantra for the seventh chakra. Accessing this chakra is a consequence of the balance created in the previous six chakras. The practice of chanting the seed mantras is needed to awaken this chakra. There are no words to express the experience of the sahasrara chakra – it can only be accessed through inner silence. It is the ultimate destination of your spiritual journey, and your progress toward this goal is ongoing.

When you have entirely dropped your ego, the Creator graces you with a state of continuous bliss or samadhi – it represents the merging of the individual self and the cosmic self. Your total surrender leads you to ultimate freedom and the permanent loss of fear. Beej mantras play an essential role in this journey.

How to chant beej mantra for chakra balancing?

Sit in a comfortable meditative posture (or on a chair with a straight back) and close your eyes. Take a few breaths to calm yourself. When you are ready to start, exhale completely, hold your breath, focus intensely on the chakra you are balancing, and repeat the beej mantra associated with that chakra:

LAM for muladhara chakra

VAM for swadisthana chakra

RAM for manipura chakra

YAM for anahata chakra

HAM for vishuddhi chakra

AUM for agya chakra

When you can no longer hold your breath, slowly inhale, then relax. Gradually you can increase the number of breaths for each chakra to 3 when you are comfortable.

This practice will create within you a sense of tranquility and peace if performed mindfully.

What Is Gayatri Mantra?

Brief Philosophy of Gayatri Mantra

The origin of the Gayatri mantra is pranav – the very first sound ever heard; and in its transcendental form, this sound is known as Gayatri. It is the source of the power behind every deity. That is why Gayatri mantra forms a part of every tradition’s practices – whether it be Shaiva, Vaishnava, Deva etc. It benefits all individuals because it is simply an earnest prayer for Light, addressed to the Almighty God. Regularly repeating a few malas (prayer beads) of Gayatri daily brings you the most positive benefits, both now and in the future.

Within every mantra, there is a storehouse of infinite power, but of all the mantras, the Gayatri mantra is considered the most glorious because everyone – regardless of their religion or caste – benefits from chanting it. But as with everything else on your spiritual journey, its power will be determined by the strength of your faith and the purity of your heart.

Gayatri mantra is a prayer to the Vedic Sun God which manifests as the goddess Gayatri Devi, who is the power behind the sun – and everything else that is a part of creation. She is shakti itself – energy. Goddess Gayatri is portrayed with ten arms and embodies the combined strength of Lakshmi (prosperity), Saraswati (spiritual knowledge) and Durga (the remover of evil). She is represented as radiance, or divine light.

Although there is no specific reference in the mantra to the mother aspect of God, Gayatri Is the mother because she represents the shakti – the energy – which creates, sustains and transcends the entire existence both within and beyond matter – the infinite. In addition, the sun referred to in the mantra is the Great Sun – the Absolute Brahman, divine radiance, which is the Presiding deity Itself.

The Gayatri mantra is considered so powerful that chanting it is compulsory for all aspirants wishing to become sannyasi (renunciates). Chanting at least one mala of this mantra each day – without a break – will guard you against dangers, give you infinite strength to overcome all obstacles and lead you to your higher consciousness. It is the secret of each individual’s personal power.

Words of the mantra:

Aum Bhuur-Bhuvah Suvah, Tat-Savitur-Varennyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhiimahi, Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayaat

Literal English translation:

Aum, we meditate on the divine radiance, which deserves the greatest worship, and pervades the physical, astral and celestial planes.
May it enlighten our intellect and awaken our spiritual wisdom.

Gayatri mantra benefits

Through meditating on the spiritual light of Goddess Gayatri, the heart chakra opens to receive the higher frequency vibrations of peace, love and prosperity – it raises your vibrational frequencies to that of the divine light.
It also protects against negative emotions such as fear, anger, jealousy, hatred, greed, and envy.
Gayatri is the mother of all Knowledge, which is why she is said to be the mother of the Vedas. The mantra itself is said to contain all the knowledge of the universe, so it connects you to this universal wisdom, which is already within you.
Goddess Gayatri is also the destroyer of all darkness and sin.
Practising the Gayatri mantra reminds us that humans are divinely connected to the Source of life itself and have been given everything needed to attain their highest potential. Gayatri mantra also strengthens concentration and can heal the body.

When should you chant the Gayatri mantra?

The best time to chant the Gayatri mantra is in the early morning, but you can chant it at night before sleep or at any time during the day. In the morning, try to visualise Gayatri as a baby goddess; during the daytime, as the adult form of Devi; and at night time, the older and wiser form of Gayatri Devi. These visualisations will help you see the goddess as being alive, which will give you a living connection to the mantra.

Once you can constantly connect your mind (mana) to the Gayatri mantra, and it starts to experience joy from this (rasa), then the mana naturally reaches a state where the Gayatri becomes your living experience. That experience is called darshan (it is no longer just an understanding, but becomes your living reality). In this state, you no longer feel separate from others – you experience that the One Reality existing within you is also present in every other being. That is why the ancient traditions say, “I am the Light of all Lights that give the Light to the buddhi” (the intellect).

How to chant Gayatri mantra

The Gayatri mantra can be chanted like all other mantras: you can chant loudly, whispering it, or you can chant mentally, as described in our previous article. If you are finding difficulty focusing on the mantra, start by chanting aloud, then gradually whisper it, and finally, just chant mentally.

What Is Mantra?

The word mantra means liberating the mind from thoughts through the power of sound vibrations.

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Group Hostings Vedic Yoga Centre Rishikesh

A Group Of Students Practising Kriya Yoga And Meditation

The photos in this article show a class of older students practising kundalini kriya with our senior teacher, Shailendra Singh Negi.
The following is a brief explanation of kundalini kriya.

What is kundalini kriya?

While asana starts with a focus on outer alignment, kundalini kriya is the art of finding inner alignment. It awakens the inner spirit. This is done by linking the body, breath and mind by observing the movement of prana throughout the body.

Kundalini kriya is a practice that has a greater appeal to those seeking an inner focus as it involves techniques where movement is secondary to the practice of observation. When the movement ceases, one’s life energy can be witnessed at a physical level as heat, vibrations and other impulses such as light and colour, and on a mental level as calmness, peace and tranquility.

Kundalini kriya is a powerful practice that is based on intense pratyahara (i.e. withdrawal of the senses), which results in bringing one closer to inner concentration (dharana) and eventually leads to a state of meditation (dhyana). Students who are externally focused can use some asana-based postures initially to help them make the transition from the physical to the internal.

The practice of kriya is based on the ancient tradition documented by Patanjali. The basis of a kriya practice is five-fold, involving:

Movement,
Sound,
Managing the breath and holding the breath,
Attention to different energy centres and parts of the body, and
Tensing and relaxing different parts of the body.

Patanjali explained in Chapter 2 of his Sutras (Sadhana Pada, Sutra 1) that the basis of inner discipline is threefold:

Tapas (austerity or discipline),
Swadhyaya (self-awareness), and
Ishwara Pranidhana (surrender to the divine will).

All kriya practices see tapas as a necessary part of the practice because it is the basis of training the senses and mind, turning from outward to inward, and preparing for self-awareness (Ishwara Pranidhana). Through this, you can transform your life so that you are living more consciously, and starting to experience the connections between yourself and the divine. This will gradually lead you to an attitude of surrendering to the divine.

In a kriya practice, you learn to become a witness of what is happening within. It awakens the inner eyes, which helps you to experience your prana (life force), leading to the experience of stillness, dharana and dhyana. In the early stages of the practice, one lacks inner tranquility (or purity of mind) and is not grounded. In this state, you experience only thoughts of the past or the future; but your inner growth will depend on how much determination you have to bring your mind into the present moment.

To make the most of a kriya practice, you should understand the three functions of your prana shakti:

ICHA shakti – desire
JNANA shakti – knowledge or experience
KRIYA shakti – action

Each stage leads to the next – you initially desire something; then you get the knowledge about how to manifest it; and finally, you take action. The desire comes from memory; the knowledge comes from your research, and the power for action comes from the soul.

In the physical dimension, the shakti functions through three different states: dullness (tamo guna), action (rajo guna), or equilibrium sattva guna) – according to one’s state of mind and attitude. Your actions in tamo/rajo guna are a misuse of shakti if it is not an appropriate time to be in that state, i.e. everyone needs tamo guna in order to be able to sleep, and rajo guna to function. But at other times, these two attitudes are unhelpful on a spiritual journey.

In essence, everything is energy or shakti, and knowing this helps to make you feel gratitude for the fact that it functions within you. On a subtle level, this energy is called kundalini shakti, which is the dormant energy lying at the base of every person’s spine. In most people, only 5% of their potential energy is ever used – and it is done so for the needs of daily living – eating, sleeping, having sex, working and so on. But by awakening one’s energy potential, there is a possibility for a person to raise their consciousness and transform their life.

The more you practice kriya, the more vibrant you will become – you will literally be vibrating more, and become more alive. It will show in your features, and in the way you move.

Below is an example of each of the practices associated with the six major chakras, some of which can be seen in the photos.

Muladhara chakra – adhara kriya
Swadisthana chakra –
Manipura chakra – manipura kriya
Anahata chakra – anahata chakra
Vishuddhi chakra –
Agya chakra – guru kriya

At the end of the class, the students practised deep relaxation by focusing and relaxing each one of the chakras through a method known as chakra dharana yoga nidra.

You will see that even those who are not able to sit on the floor can participate in a kundalini kriya class, so this practice is for everyone.

If you are interested in practising a full 20-minute kriya yoga class, follow this link to our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/PABGvfzkNsg

Vedic Yoga courses and programs

Beginner Course – Yoga & Meditation

Yoga Teacher Training Courses in Rishikesh:

• 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

• 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

• 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

Master Level (2000 Hour) Yoga Course (Personal Development)

Online yoga programs

International Yoga Retreats

Sacred Pilgrimage To Dev Prayag And Chandrabadani

Just 34 kilometres from Dev Prayag is the sacred Chandrabadani Temple, which is one of the great 51 Mother Divine temples scattered throughout ancient India. The following story explains the history of how this temple came about.

Devi Sati was the daughter of Prajapati Daksha who was a Brahmin priest. Devi Sati was married to Lord Shiva but her father disliked him. One day, Daksha performed a special a fire ceremony and invited all the Gods except Lord Shiva. Devi Sati begged her father to show respect to Lord Shiva, but Daksha refused and insulted Sati in front of his guests. This angered Sati who cursed her father and his sacred ritual; then she jumped in the fire and burned to death.

A grief-stricken Shiva roamed the universe with Sati’s lifeless body on his shoulders. The gods eventually asked Lord Vishnu to help Shiva overcome his grief. Lord Vishnu threw his chakra and dismembered Sati’s body into 51 pieces which fell to the Earth. Temples arose in all the places where Sati’s body or jewellery fell. This is how they became Mother Divine temples. Lord Shiva stayed in isolation until Devi Sati reincarnated as Parvati.

This is the history of the beautiful and sacred Chandrabadani temple. Pilgrims from faraway places come to Chandrabadani to worship Devi Sati and seek her blessings.

This group of students spent a spiritually charged day in the north Indian area of the Himalayas, which is considered by many to be the spiritual centre of the world.

Why is this area so special to those on a spiritual path?

A pilgrimage to the Himalayas

The Sanskrit word Himalaya means “snow abode”.

The sacred Himalayan mountains offer the experience of infinite energy, which helps people to connect with their inner nature. For individuals on a spiritual journey, the Himalayas are the ultimate destination for the soul. The experience of the Himalayas is in the form of non-verbal teachings, which have the power to shift inner energy blockages.

There are hundreds of temples and sacred sites throughout the Himalayan foothills. They are home to north India’s most significant spiritual places, such as Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri, many beautiful monasteries, and many hidden secret spiritual sites as well.

A visit to the Himalayas will show you some of the most breathtaking panoramas on Earth. Many sacred herbs and plants exist in the northern region of the Himalayas, which is also known as DEV BHUMI – the land of Divinity.

The great Himalayas have been the source of immense peace, tranquility and enlightenment for countless sages, yogis and spiritual gurus. Every year, devotees from around the world undertake a holy trek to these sites despite all the challenges offered by the extreme geographic and weather conditions. The Vedic Yoga Centre offers annual pilgrimages to the major sites at Gangotri and Badrinath, and from time to time to other sacred places closer to the Centre, such as:

• Vashishta Gufa

• Tat Walla baba cave

• Dev Prayag

• Chandrabadani

• Panch Kedar

• Panch Badri

There are many more such holy sites, but the purpose of visiting them all is to help you travel the pilgrimage within. It has been a long tradition in India that whenever people are unaware of their inner pilgrimage, and they feel an absence of peace, happiness and clarity, they seek outer pilgrimages because these sites carry the higher spiritual vibrations that help them to connect within, and purify and develop their awareness to their own sacred temple within.

Vedic Yoga courses and programs

Beginner Course – Yoga & Meditation

Yoga Teacher Training Courses in Rishikesh:

• 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

• 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

• 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

Master Level (2000 Hour) Yoga Course (Personal Development)

Online yoga programs

International Yoga Retreats

Holy

Indian festivals are an opportunity to heal, refresh and develop an awareness of your inner divinity. Festivals are a celebration of life, which has two dimensions – outer and inner. People are often so caught up in their external life that they forget their connection with their inner life. Even if they regularly practice yoga, their focus is distracted due to the stresses of external life.

The ancient rishis, sages, yogis and masters, have given us these celebrations with very auspicious timings. They are astrologically planned for a time when the planets are aligned so that the highest forms of energy descend on you. Celebrating outer life during these times offers a greater opportunity for healing because you can more easily connect within. These festivals are very powerful moments for developing higher concentration towards your spiritual practices.

Holi is the festival that awakens the inner colour of your life’s higher fragrances and marks the beginning of the Spring season. This festival is a possibility to heal and repair your channel of love and affection towards others so that you can forgive them (and yourself), forget and move on. The offering of colour to each other is a gesture that gifts this same colour to the Source of life residing within you. This year at the time of Holi, we had visitors from many parts of the world celebrating with us: Kyrgyzstan, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Israel, Australia, Ukraine and Poland.

On the eve of Holi, Indians celebrate with fire, which represents the burning and removal of darkness within humans. It commemorates a legend in which Holika tried to murder her nephew, Prahlad, using a boon from the Gods that made her safe from fire. Holika sat on a large bonfire with Prahlad on her lap, but Prahlad’s faith protected him from the fire while Holika herself was burned to death. As part of the celebrations, bonfires are burned in many public places to symbolise the burning of Holika.

The legend itself is the demonstration of power between light and dark – it doesn’t matter how deep your darkness is, or how low your energy, emotions or state of mind; if you constantly connect your mind and awareness to the Supreme Self, that power can transcend the darkness within you. As that inner darkness is dissolved, you are able to experience the higher dimensions of your inner life.

On the day of Holi itself, Indians celebrate with flowers, water and colour. This tradition started from the time of Radha and Krishna, who used to play together in Vrindavan. At that time, these items were used as elements of unity because they help to channel one’s expression of love and energy. In a deeper sense, it is about integrating the solar and lunar forces within you, also known as Shiva/Shakti or Radha/Krishna One-ness. At a rational level, these ideas may appear to be different, but they have one purpose: to strengthen your eternal nature – peace and bliss.

Celebrations of this type have been ongoing in India for thousands of years. Each year the dates are determined by the alignment of the planets. The specific alignments offer the optimal energy for devotees to elevate their spiritual practices. The vibrations in the air there are stronger and help the mind to be more focused on one’s day-to-day sadhana, which is the living reality of those who practise genuinely. It promotes the feeling of giving and sharing, which is one reason that people gather at these times. It creates an intensity of energy that expands and preserves people’s faith in their inner consciousness. Even if you don’t know any practices, then whatever ritual you perform in your outer life should be offered first to the Lord.

In modern times many people forget the inner significance of the festival of Holi. The purpose of celebrating in the outer dimension is purely so that you can connect within. As a practitioner, you should celebrate and remember that the One who resides within you is the very first to whom you should offer the blessing of this festival, to bow down to the Source within you. At the Vedic Yoga Centre, we celebrated Holi by gathering together to perform a healing fire ceremony (havan) and offered different gestures of worship, such as the exchange of colours.

Vedic Yoga courses and programs, Rishikesh

Beginner Course – Yoga & Meditation

Yoga Teacher Training Courses in Rishikesh:

• 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

• 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

• 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

Master Level (2000 Hour) Yoga Course (Personal Development)

Online yoga programs

International Yoga Retreats

Q&A On Teacher Training & Other Programs

In this blog we are sharing topics that we have identified over time as common sources of curiosity by those who join us in yoga courses, training programs, retreats and ayurvedic treatments.

YOGA COURSES

Q: What kind of yoga courses in Rishikesh does the Vedic Yoga Centre offer?

A: Many people think that we offer only teacher training courses, but at our Centre we have a range of programs to suit everyone which include both yoga and Ayurveda:

• Beginner yoga course

• Yoga retreats

• 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training

• 300 hour yoga Teacher Training

• 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training

• Master level program

• Kundalini kriya and meditation course

• Ayurveda de-stress program

• Ayurveda de-tox program

• Ayurveda massage and therapy course

• Group hostings

• Self-retreat

• Pilgrimages to sacred sites

We are honoured to have received Trip Advisor Excellence Awards through 2016-2018 for many of our programs; and maintaining our high standard of service continues to be a key priority at our Centre.

Follow the links in this blog for details of all our programs.

Q: What is the best yoga school in Rishikesh India?

A: The best yoga school in Rishikesh for you is the one which helps you find the path that leads you to raise your consciousness.

Rishikesh is the yoga capital of the world, so there are many yoga courses in Rishikesh which provide a variety of teachings from many different backgrounds. At the Vedic Yoga Centre we provide courses that are based on the ancient teachings of the Himalayan tradition, and have come from authentic sources which have been tested through the ages.

The programs are spiritually-oriented and combine the sister sciences of yoga and Ayurveda. We focus on providing a living atmosphere in a traditional Indian environment so that you can experience a holistic lifestyle during your stay.

We have a highly qualified senior yoga teacher with extensive experience, as well as expert Ayurvedic doctors and therapists, who all work together to help you find your healing and wellness according to your individual body nature and state of mind.

Your stay can include meals which are prepared by the family and are wholesome and offer a healthy Ayurvedic diet. All of these qualities can help those who stay with us find a holistic approach to their and wellness.

Q: What is the best meditation centre in Rishikesh?

A: There are many meditation centres in Rishikesh, so if you know what you are looking for then you need to choose between the centres offering that specific style of meditation.

At our meditation centre we offer the practice known as Vedic dhyan, which is an ancient method of experiencing your flow of awareness into the present moment. This practice has come from the Himalayan tradition which offers a deep well of Vedic wisdom that has been experienced and handed down by the ancient yogis. The practices that we share at the Centre are a systematic approach for bringing your body, breath and mind into a state of equanimity, so that you can spontaneously develop your inner awareness and learn to adjust to the process of inner awakening.

The Trip Advisor Excellence Awards that we have received through 2016-2018 include our meditation centre as well as many other features of our institution, including peaceful atmosphere, clean accommodation and yoga courses in Rishikesh, all of which contribute to providing an appropriate environment for your healing and meditation.

YOGA RETREATS

Q: What is the best Rishikesh yoga retreat?

A: The best yoga retreat in Rishikesh is the one that your body needs in this moment. What are you hoping to gain from your retreat?

Rishikesh is a unique place in the foothill of the Himalayas which has been recharged with spiritual vibrations throughout the ages. The Vedic Yoga Centre is located on the banks of the sacred river Ganga, at the foothill of the Himalayas and surrounded by nature. A Rishikesh yoga retreat at our Centre gives you tools and understanding to build up your inner life so that you can experience your overall harmony and wellness. It offers a combination of yoga and Ayurveda treatments and activities, together with an appropriate and positive healing atmosphere for those who are seeking peace, harmony and rejuvenation.

Our Vedic Ayurveda Spa & Wellness Centre provides a wide range of Ayurvedic treatments, including retreats for De-tox, De-stress and Anti-depression, or a Massage and Therapy Course if you want to study Ayurveda. You may also want to take advantage of our Ayurveda Cooking Course.

At the Vedic Yoga Centre you can choose from daily yoga classes, a Beginner yoga and meditation course, or a Kundalini kriya and meditation course. Every evening we have group chanting followed by a short lecture and discussion, with the opportunity for having any of your yoga or Ayurveda questions answered.

Our rooms are modern and comfortable, and you can enjoy Ayurvedic meals prepared by our family for your health and well-being.

If none of our programs cater for your specific needs, we can tailor a retreat just for you or your group; or you can simply come for a self-retreat and participate in any of the treatments or activities of your choice.

The Vedic Yoga Centre has been presented Excellence Awards in 2016, 2017 and 2018 for success in hosting group stays, providing Ayurveda detox therapy as well as for clean accommodation, peaceful atmosphere, and best yoga and meditation environment.

Follow the links in this blog for the details of all our different programs.

TEACHER TRAINING COURSES

Q: What is the best school for Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh?

A: There are many Yoga Teacher Training Centres in Rishikesh. At the Vedic Yoga Centre we take the wisdom from the traditional teachings of the Himalayas and offer these ancient methods for modern times. These teachings have been designed for use in an applied form so that students can experience their total wellness.

Our 200, 300 and 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training Courses (YTTC) all emphasise applied yogic teaching so that students can carry a glimpse of yogic experience into their life after completing the Course. Our programs are combined with teachings from the science of Ayurveda, together with its remedies and holistic lifestyle approach. Even the food offered to students during the courses is an integral part of their studies because they learn how their meals are based on the principles of balanced health through a yogic diet.

The courses are also supported by less well-known threads of yoga such as the science of swara yoga (the systematic study of breath flow through the nostrils), nada yoga (the use of sound for healing), and the addition of other instrumental sounds like the harmonium, sitar, flute and didgeridoo.

Our Centre essentially offers the teachings of:

Karma yoga (seva – selfless service),
Bhakti yoga (devotion to the Lord), and
Gyana yoga (the yoga of the ultimate knowledge – wisdom).

Seva is an essential part of planting a seed in the mind of students to give selflessly, because most of us have only learned to take. Through giving, you make a space in your heart where your actions can contain higher energies and higher motives, which lead to the creation of a space for devotion.

It is the underlying motive of every act which creates a channel for the flow of energy, and that energy is based on your inner experiences. The depth of these experiences will determine how much bhakti (love) will arise within you, and this governs how much you will be able to surrender to the Higher Power within you. It is this surrender that makes you aware of the ultimate state of the essential knowledge – gyana.

Our teachings, which focus on karma, bhakti and gyana, are captured in the slogan of our Centre: “Serve, Love, Surrender”.

Q: What is the best 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh India?

A: 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Courses in Rishikesh India are very common nowadays, and they all offer a foundation program which is designed to give students a clear and basic concept of yoga and its gradual evolution, as well as its approach for one’s physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

At the Vedic Yoga Centre our 200 hour YTTC not only gives you tools to build up a regular yoga practice, but also gives you a solid understanding of the traditional teachings which can be applied for modern times. We want to help you not just on your mat, but also in the ups and downs of your day-to-day of life, so you can take care of your holistic health, and live all the different aspects of your life fully.

We focus on providing students with a yogic environment by maintaining the yogic disciplines that are taught as part of the Course. This has a deep physiological and psychological effects of promoting harmony, because in these times many people are suffering a great deal of tension, stress, depression and anxiety. In addition, most people lack the power of concentration because their energy is dissipated in many different directions, so they are unable to be spontaneously involved in life.

Understanding that yoga is an applied science which requires discipline and practice are key factors in our Course, along with the sacred teachings of the yogic scriptures, all of which are helpful for physical and mental health. Students are also given a very clear understanding of how yoga can offer remedies for depression and anxiety, and helps with concentration, relaxation, and above all, dissolving one’s fears.

Meditation is the cornerstone of our Course, and students not only practice how to attain this state, but learn about its healing effects, and how it gives clarity of mind so you live a balanced life. After completing their course students have an understanding and some experience of how meditation and its associated practices can transform their life. Of course, the success of this will depend upon the practitioner. If one is open-hearted, attentive, disciplined and receptive, then all of these teachings will be effective.

Learning how to share with others fearlessly is one of the most important aspects of our 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Course. We help students to work with their weaknesses so that they can how to adjust to the different circumstances in both a teaching capacity and as a student. This journey starts with accepting yourself where you are right now, and begin taking small steps from there. Confidence which arises from the experience of their own practice is what helps our students to become better teachers.

Our 200 hour YTTC in Rishikesh will be the best yoga school for those who are looking for something deeper in their yoga practice, and at the same time seeking a genuine atmosphere which can inspire and motivate them to transform their life.

Q: What is the best 300 hour Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh India?

A: This course is especially designed for those students who are looking for an even deeper aspect of yoga to strengthen and develop a more profound understanding, experience greater skill in their ability to share with others.

We have found that many students who enrol in 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Courses in Rishikesh are so tense during the program that rather than experiencing the teachings being offered, they are more focused on just completing the course.

At the Vedic Yoga Centre we believe that we should focus on providing an appropriate atmosphere in which students can be inspired so that they can experience the sacred teachings of yoga, all of which are based on how to raise one’s own consciousness. We do this by helping individuals carry a yogic attitude so that they can experience each session offered through an attitude of mindfulness to the moment, rather than focusing on the end result.

We believe that starting their day with prayer and meditation will help them to ground their awareness. Through this attitude they can better experience their kundalini kriyas and other yogic practices rather than just perform them with a view to passing on information about them to others. It is this type of attitude that also helps students to absorb the essential teaching of the different yogic scriptures with a view to adopting them in their own lives.

Through this focus we aim to help dissolve the inner fears of students, and strengthen their trust in themselves to build a yogic path in their life, not just perform some yoga postures every day.

During the course, along with the provision of a yogic atmosphere, a yogic diet and yogic practices, we also emphasise the need to observe silence and connect with Mother Earth. We suggest that in their spare time students undertake conscious walks in nature and visit local sacred sites which help them tune into and experience the higher energies of these places. That is why many of our students have shared in their testimonials that we are one of the best yoga schools in Rishikesh India. We have also received Excellence Awards from Trip Advisor through 2016-2018 for offering the best Yoga Teacher Training Courses in Rishikesh.

Finally, after completing the 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course, we offer students an eternal relationship with the Vedic Yoga Centre, through which they can always contact a teacher who is available to assist and guide them with any difficulties they are facing in their practice or their teaching.

Q: What is the best 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh India?

A: There are many schools offering 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training Courses in Rishikesh, but we believe that many students are unaware of how much patience and determination is required for this particular program.

The Vedic Yoga Centre’s 500 hour YTTC is a combination of our 200 and 300 hour Yoga Teacher Training programs, and is a systematic 7 week course which starts as a foundation course for your personal practice. It begins by building up your understanding in a way that helps you develop yoga in your day-to-day life, and enables you to share your basic experiences with others.

Once you have formed a habit of the different aspects of yoga in a disciplined way, the program then moves to the deeper aspects of both yogic knowledge and yogic experience. For any kind of transformation in your life, this 500 hour YTTC requires that you be willing to approach your life from a spiritual perspective, rather than focusing on being a teacher. As one who is already teaching yoga, albeit at a basic level, you will be able to share your knowledge and experience more spontaneously with others because your yoga has become a part of your everyday life.

Anyone who wants to enrol in this course should first be very clear about why they need this course; and if they do believe they need it, then they should scrutinise the curriculum and daily schedule to identify whether they are able to commit to it. If you are unsure then it may be wiser to start with the 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training program; and only after completing the foundation course and gaining some experience, should you consider whether you are prepared to return for the 300 hour program.

Regardless of which program you choose, you will find that our Centre focuses on providing a traditional yogic atmosphere which helps you to develop your physical, mental and spiritual health. We aim to give you the best of traditional Vedic yoga in a dedicated yoga ashram-style setting, with modern facilities.

Nowadays it is not easy to find authentic and genuine yogic experiences, but in addition to the appropriate atmosphere, we provide a routine, the sacred teachings from the different scriptures, together with the practices of hatha yoga, raja yoga, mantra yoga, nada yoga, swara yoga, vedic dhyan, Himalayan kundalini kriya yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga and gyana yoga. All of these aspects are integrated so that you experience the holistic nature of the different branches as one path. The entire course is focused on the teachings of the Himalayan tradition.

Yoga at our Centre is different to many other places due to our proximity to the sacred Himalayas and the holy river Ganga. We are situated close to sites which contains the lingering presence of all past Masters, gurus, yogis, seekers and siddhas who have built up the spiritual energies in this area through their austerities over the ages, and handed us their teachings through both verbal and non-verbal exchanges.

To make the most of this course, students need to understand that the manifestation of their outer life is based on their inner life. If you are miserable within, then your surrounding life will also be miserable. So our Centre focuses its teachings on providing the positive atmosphere which encourages students to go within and develop their higher awareness.

ASHRAM-STYLE LIVING

Q: Are there any yoga ashrams in Rishikesh?

A: There are many yoga ashrams in Rishikesh. An ashram is defined as a place where people withdraw from society to live apart as a community or a group, and work together towards their common spiritual evolution. It is often used in a religious sense, but at the Vedic Yoga Centre in Rishikesh we offer an ancient ashram-style atmosphere for students without any pressure for people to conform to any set belief system. This dedicated atmosphere, together with modern facilities, can help people heal and create the feeling of a yogic community. It is not a religious affiliation, but one that sees the one-ness of all living beings who are working towards raising their consciousness and working with each other to create a kinder and more compassionate world.

In current times, many people are caught up with seemingly endless restlessness and thoughts, and are affected with stress and depression which they don’t know how to release. Not only do we need a combination of yogic techniques and natural Ayurvedic medicines for our healing, we also need an appropriate living atmosphere which contains all those types of energies and attitudes which helps to bring holistic health and harmony through the living atmosphere.

The Vedic Yoga Retreat Centre is the best Rishikesh yoga ashram to provide this healing environment because it provides both the routine for peaceful living and the ancient teachings of the Vedas for modern times. This is done through a combination of yoga techniques and Ayurveda treatments, while giving participants the space they need to create the peace they require for healing themselves. Our schedules are designed in a way that students can find balance between the program and their own time; and they are provided with a private room that has its own bathroom facilities. We also provide three healthy meals per day based on Ayurvedic science which are specifically designed to complement the healing process.

Against this background of ashram-style living we provide a routine of yogic discipline. It is this discipline which helps visitors work towards raising their awareness from their survival instincts (which hold them at their animal nature) to experiencing their higher states of consciousness. This is the path towards feeling truly human, and it is the foundation of experiencing our divine nature.

The Vedic Yoga Centre is situated below the sacred Marniputh Hills of the Himalayas and beside the holy river Ganga. The energy from these holy places provides the appropriate atmosphere to inspire and motivate visitors to continue working on themselves through a range of yogic disciplines.

Our aim at the Vedic Yoga Centre in Rishikesh is to provide a practical approach to healing; and anyone who tries our program sincerely and consistently will know the effects of the teachings, which are based on the foundation of ashram style living. They can definitely transform your life.

SPIRITUALITY

Q: Where can I find a spiritual master in Rishikesh India?

A: There have been a long line of Himalayan Masters from the Rishikesh area – some have been well-known while others have not. However, all of these Masters have handed down their wisdom and experience from generation to generation, and contributed to the world by being living examples of how to walk on the path of spirituality. Their desire to share with others continues to let us walk in their footsteps today; and it is the duty of all present yoga practitioners to also continue passing on that knowledge and make it their living experience by transmitting their wisdom to others.

Rishikesh has always contained the specific energy of these spiritual practitioners, and has been continually recharged over time by these vibrations, together with the presence of sacred Mother Ganga. She has been a witness of this entire tradition and lineage throughout the ages. But your personal experience of that energy will be in accordance with the way that you approach your stay here. If you are open to this energy then you will definitely see a shift in your mind. Simply living here with a receptive attitude has the power to change your thought patterns.

Our Senior teacher, Shailendra Singh Negi, whose family has lived in the Rishikesh area for many generations, was born and studied here. He has been raised by his parents in the Himalayan tradition and has been inspired from an early age by many spiritual masters who have transmitted their teachings to him. He has dedicated his life to sharing whatever he has received with those who are receptive; but importantly, he never asks people to believe anything he offers – he simply asks them to be attentive to each moment and to implement his teachings from wherever they are right now in their lives. Through this approach, students will have their own spiritual experiences which will guide them further on the path; and it is from these genuine experiences that one’s faith and trust in their spiritual path arises.

The spiritual path is for everyone – on this journey no-one is inferior or superior; it does not discriminate between caste, race, colour, nationality or gender. These titles are all needed only at the level of the body and the ego, but spirituality is the experience of inner consciousness, which is something to which every human being is entitled; and once you experience this through your dedicated practice, it is what unites you with all others of the world.

Many people come to Rishikesh to seek a spiritual Master; but you will only find a genuine one when you are ready. It is not determined by your wish to have a Master, but by your intense desire to raise your inner consciousness; and the role of the outer Master is to connect you to this Master within you. A true master will never make you handicapped – he will empower you to have trust in your own spiritual journey, making you aware that if he can walk this path, as the long line of ancestors has walked it before, so can you. He is a living example for your own spiritual life.

If you are unable to find a spiritual Master, you can just become aware of whatever you have already received from any of your learning experiences, and ask yourself whether you are using it appropriately to prepare yourself so that you can be ready for your further spiritual journey. Your dedication will help you find the appropriate Master.

In the past, the energy of spiritual Masters remained in the places where they lived or travelled; and because so many Masters and yogis lived in the Rishikesh locality there are many sites in this area which are still charged by that energy and vibration. The Vedic Yoga Centre is a spiritual centre situated amongst these different sites, still surrounded by Nature and the sacred river Ganga; and because of the continued devotion that is practiced here at the Centre by the Negi family, as well as the many students who regularly revisit the Centre, it carries the type of energy which is helpful for those who are genuine seekers on the spiritual path.

Come to the Vedic Yoga Centre in Rishikesh and learn to find your inner spiritual Master.

Vastu – The Ancient Indian Art of Architecture

The ancient Indian sciences

The entire culture of India is based on a science, which has the power to lead you to your total well-being. This science is explained in the ancient scriptures that cover all aspects of life, including the practices and philosophies of authentic yoga and Ayurveda, which is the basis of all our yoga programs, our 200, 300 and 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training Courses, and all the treatments and programs offered at our Vedic Ayurveda Spa and Wellness Centre.

As part of our philosophy of offering the authentic teachings of Indian spiritual culture, we will be explaining its different aspects, specifically as they relate to your holistic health and wellbeing. In this particular blog we are introducing the science of vastu, which is the component covering the construction of all buildings, including your home.

What is vastu?

The science of vastu is contained in the Brihat Samhita of Varamihira – in the chapter on Vastu Shastra, in which it states, “I will explain … the science of architecture that has come down from Brahma, through a steady line of collective wisdom”. This document explains that if you wish to experience a balance of energy and harmony on your physical, mental and inner levels while spending time in a building, its construction should be totally based on the ancient science of vastu.

The basis of vastu is the force of energy. There are two energy forces in nature – the solar and the lunar, which are combined with the four directions – north, south, east and west, as well as with the energies of the five elements – earth, water, fire, air and space. In this blog we will focus on the construction of a home (as opposed to buildings in general), and demonstrate how the harmony between all of the abovementioned energies in its architecture will determine the harmony within the building itself.

Perhaps not everyone can experience a direct connection to all of these forces at the physical level, but you should at least be aware of the appropriate direction of specific areas of your home if you hope to find harmony in that particular space. Only then can you experience what is truly meant by vastu – living in harmony.

This particular shastra of the scriptures teaches us that vastu is both a science and an art – not only does it make your living arrangements pleasant but it also gives long term harmony and prosperity to those living within the building. However, the occupants must also have an attitude of gratitude for everything that they have been given. In the same way that the system of vastu has a Brahmasthana (the centre of the house where the solar energy is concentrated and can radiate to the different parts of the home), so its residents must also have access to their own Brahmasthana – their own life-centre.

How to use vastu in practice

Before you start building your home, you should create a drawing of the floor plan of your home – this is called the Vastu Purusha Mandala. It should look like this:

The mandala symbolises the metaphysical principle of the all-encompassing celestial principles. It includes the energies of all the topographical items on the land on which you are building – soil, rock-formations, oceans, rivers, mountains, stars, planets etc.

Specific vastu functions in your home

In the system of vastu every school of thought interprets the scripture slightly differently, so their point of view towards the directions of different areas in the house will vary slightly. In this blog we are sharing with you the most appropriate and commonly accepted view-points.

The central and corner sectors of your building are identified with the five primary elements of earth, water, fire, air and space (the Pancha Mahabhutas).

Water (udaka) relates to the north-east
Fire (agni) relates to the south-east
Air (vayu) relates to the north-west
Earth (prithvi) to the south-west
Space (akasha) relates to the central area

The next step is to divide the construction into nine equal sectors as follows (called Peeta Mandala). Any activity in your residence should be based on the cosmic position of the five elements, as shown above:

The particular areas of your home will be most in harmony if they face the following directions:

Dining room – west (north or east is second best)
Prayer room – east, north or north-east
Living room – east or north
Bedroom/s – north-north-west
Bathroom – facing west, but within that area the toilet should be constructed so that the person sitting on it is facing north. The toilet could also be constructed to the west of the building, north-north-west or the south, south-east or south-west direction.

The most significant point of this science as it relates to yoga practitioners is that you should be aware that this knowledge can be used to find your own personal harmony within your living space so that you can connect to your own centre within.

In our next blog we will discuss the connection between vastu, the five elements and the chakras.

How The “Sequence Of 7 Best Yoga Postures” Effects The Koshas

The Vedic Yoga Centre is dedicated to bringing to students the ancient teachings of yoga in their purest form so that yoga can become a spontaneous part of their lives. “Rishikesh yoga” is the teachings of the sacred Himalayas, and in modern times all of those ancient teachings still live in the atmosphere in a non-verbal dimension.

The tradition of the Himalayas carries all different ancient teachings such as hatha yoga, kriya yoga, kundalini yoga, Swara yoga, nada yoga, ashtanga yoga, mantra yoga, tantra yoga, bhakti yoga, karma yoga, jnana yoga, raja yoga, and Vedantas and Upanishads.

All of these different paths are an integral part of the teachings at the Vedic Yoga Centre. These authentic yoga teachings from the sacred Himalayan tradition are included in all of our programs such as Himalayan Kundalini courses, beginner yoga and meditation course, and different levels of Yoga Teacher Training programs, both online and on-site in Rishikesh. Unfortunately, there are many people who are unable to participate in either of these options due to personal circumstances, so we try to present articles such as this Sequence of 7 Best Yoga Postures which can have a very powerful impact on a practitioner’s holistic health, even if they can’t connect with us directly.

Why is this Sequence a good combination for your regular practice?

This Sequence is a combination of all the different types of movements from hatha yoga – forward bending, back bending, side bending, twisting, inversions, and balancing poses which have a deep impact on all different organs, muscles and systems of the body.

There are many different sequences to practice, but we are trying to simplify it as much as possible because in day-to-day life those who are facing a lot of stress or depression and the muscles are very tense, so they think yoga is not for them because they are not able to practice due to physical limitations. Even in this Sequence it is important to just do what you can – however you can, and just be there, and breathe. Accept yourself where you are right now.

Background

In a previous blog we discussed a sequence of the 7 best yoga postures for a short daily complete yoga practice. Its benefits include:

1. A practice for keeping the spine healthy, as well as all joints and muscles of the body;
2. A practice for de-stressing;
3. A practice for reducing depression;
4. A practice for de-toxifying the body;
5. A practice for lowering insulin levels for diabetics;
6. A practice for boosting immunity; and
7. Overcoming many other common imbalances caused by modern living.

The seven asanas of this sequence in brief

After completing this sequence, it is important to sit in one’s chosen meditation posture and practice prana Dharana – a meditation on the prana. The journey through this Sequence is the preparation for your inner balance between the solar and lunar forces within the body, so that you can be spontaneous with the practice of meditation.

In this blog, we will discuss the effects of this sequence on the five different koshas of the body. Kosha means layer or sheath. According to yoga philosophy, a human being is capable of experiencing these five dimensions of existence. The external kosha is the physical dimension, while the others are progressively subtle. The SOUL is at the centre of the innermost sheath. The other four layers cover the soul, and all the sheathes are inter-related with each other. The five sheaths operate as a holistic system.

A brief description of the 5 koshas

1. Anamaya kosha (physical layer)

The outermost kosha is the food sheath – the physical body nourished by food. It includes the five organs of perception (sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch) and the five organs of action (arms, legs, mouth, reproductive organs and excretory organs). Any shortcomings or changes (both positive and negative) in the other four koshas manifest themselves in the anamaya kosha. So all disease, regardless of its origin, finally manifests in the body.

2. Pranamaya kosha (energy layer)

Pranamaya kosha regulates the prana – one’s life energy – with the help of the breath. The breath is the vehicle of prana which moves through the nadis (energy channels) throughout the astral body. The nadis are purified with the help of all different yogic practices. Purification of the nadis helps to expand the pranamaya kosha, which is just a bridge between your physical and mental layer.

Movement of prana – there are two powerful times when you can harmonise the pranic rhythms within the mind and body:

* In the morning between 3:30-7:30am, when the prana is rising upward (after 12:00pm it starts to move downwards); and
* In the evening time, when the sun in setting and the moon is rising.

A person’s pranamaya kosha can be experienced. When you get a feeling about a person you meet, even if you don’t know them, you can experience their pranamaya kosha. It is a physical expression of the person’s pranic rhythms.

3. Manomaya kosha (mental layer)

The manomaya kosha deals with the sensory mind. Its role is to think and feel. It is the layer that needs to be disciplined through our yogic practices.

When the first two layers (anamaya and pranamaya) are lacking harmony between them, the manomaya becomes distracted – that is what we call the “monkey mind”; but when there is alignment between the first two, then it helps the manomaya to be focused, which leads to the presence of the mind – a state of clarity. This is where the practitioner can build up determination and cultivate developing their will power.

Brain waves

The different states of a person’s mind create particular types of brain waves. Scientific research has shown that the state of your consciousness is responsible for the type of brain waves that operate in your mind. All of your brain waves are on a continuum. They are listed here on a scale from the most gross to the most subtle:

• Beta waves – on EEG these correspond to the normal waking consciousness.
• Gamma waves – are associated with higher brain functions like reasoning and memory. They can improve your working memory and problem-solving ability.
• Alpha waves – indicate a relaxed and tranquil state.
• Theta waves – are slower than alpha waves, and give a dream-like state, creating a world of imagination.
• Delta waves – appear in the deepest state of relaxation and in restorative healing sleep, and are most commonly seen in infants.

From these definitions you can see how these waves represent different states of awareness. All yogic practices are for helping the brain to tap into generating more alpha, theta, and delta waves, which helps efficient functioning in all aspects of one’s life.

4. Vijnanamaya kosha (intellect layer)

Vijnanamaya kosha is a state of inner clarity and intuitive intelligence. It begins to function when there is alignment between the first three layers, which is the experience of stillness. At this level of awareness, you are able to hear the knowledge from within you.

Gradually the expansion of vijnanamaya awareness leads you to the state of shunya – where you are completely neutral. It is expressed as the experience of peace, where there is no longer any difference between your friends and your enemies. The ability to cultivate that intense Dharana leads to deeper stages of experience.

5. Anandamaya kosha (blissful layer)

The anandamaya kosha is purely a state of experience – it is felt as a state of bliss, peace, and happiness – words are unable to describe this because it is not an intellectual concept. It is purely a state of experience. It cannot be grasped through the mind. It is the very nature of your roots – it is your soul.

At the level of the senses, it is experienced as a drop of this happiness – no matter what we are doing in our external life, we are constantly seeking this happiness, but we are unable to find our completeness there. As you begin to redirect your awareness within and start to experience your happiness and joy in life, and your fearlessness, you get an indication that you are on the path to your home.

The journey from gross to subtle in the Sequence of 7 Best Yoga Postures

The sequence of 7 Best Yoga Postures is based on the first three koshas: integration between the body, breath, energy, and mind. It is a journey from the gross to the more subtle:

1. In the beginning, you only have awareness of the body – you feel each movement so that it can be a conscious movement.
2. Then along with the movement, you add your awareness of the breath.
3. Then you become aware of the different parts of the body being affected in each posture.
4. Next, you try to remain longer in each posture, holding the breath either out or in, according to the movement, e.g. when you bend forward you will hold the breath out; when you bend backward, you hold the breath in, when you twist you will hold the breath out etc.
5. Finally, you are able to maintain the prana Dharana – the awareness on prana in your chosen meditative posture, or in Shavasana.

**Effects of the Sequence on the koshas – the astral body**

1. When you become aware of the movement and integrate this with awareness of the breath, it affects your anamaya kosha, the physical layer, and the pranamaya kosha (energy layer).
2. When the pranamaya kosha is affected in this way, it begins a detoxifying process – it purifies your energy channels (nadis) which allow the prana to flow in its rhythmic form – spontaneously. It will only flow spontaneously when you can integrate:

• the movement, with
• the breath, and with
• the experience of the different body parts being affected, AND
• the senses and mind.

This affects the manomaya kosha (the mental layer).

3. Points 1-2 show how the movement in the practice, with awareness of breath, body, mind, and senses, affects the physical layer, energy layer and mental layers of the body.
4. As these layers start to become aligned it brings you to a state of clarity which naturally brings you to function intuitively (this is the vijnanamaya kosha).
5. As you begin to function with clarity on a regular basis, it leads you to a state of inner joy and bliss through your stillness and the gradual expansion of your inner consciousness.
6. Conscious movement leads to stillness; stillness leads to clarity within, and inner clarity allows you to function at your full potential. This brings you to a state of inner joy and peace (anandamaya kosha).

These steps are a part of the ancient yogic methods of practice which help to bring both outer alignment and inner alignment to the practitioner. This alignment leads to the practitioner’s holistic health and well-being – both physical health and mental health.

Prana, nadis and chakras

Prana is the first unit of life within you, which functions with the help of the breath. The practices of posture and breathing (asana, pranayama, bandha, etc.) help to purify the energy pathway (the nadis). The basis of this purification is your conscious involvement with the practice because the movement of prana is based on the movement of your mind – your thoughts.

Wherever your mind is, that is where your energy is, e.g. if you are suddenly faced with a stressful situation, immediately your breathing patterns will change – your breath becomes very active or irregular; and because the breath is the vehicle of your prana, a stressful situation distracts the flow of your prana, which affects all different organs of the body and the mind.

This does not allow a state of balance to occur, and both your inner and outer consciousness become out of harmony. These two levels of consciousness are known as your chakras, and the process of bringing harmony between them through yoga practices is called chakra balancing.

The first 3 chakras (muladhara, swadisthana and manipura chakras) are the outer dimension of consciousness, and the next 3 (anahata, vishuddhi, and ajna chakras) are the inner dimension of consciousness.

It is only your consistent, mindful practice, carried out with patience, that will lead you to the state of integrating the physical and astral bodies, which then brings harmony between all the layers of your body and the different levels of your life.

Keep practicing the Sequence – it will help to move you along this path towards outer and inner alignment. In our next blog, we will share practices for continuing your physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being through this Sequence.