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Report by Claire Taylor
VAK YOGA:
We were given so much amazing information and encountered such deep
exploration in our sessions with Mihai Ganj and Ovidiu Pop that I wanted
to share my notes with you.
We began by pondering the definition of yoga and soon realised that the
definition of yoga is so vast that it is easier to contemplate what yoga
is not than to say what yoga is!
Yoga is not necessarily a technique – although any combination of
techniques can apply.
Yoga is a tool, not the objective; be relaxed and enjoy.
Yoga is a way of Being – rather than doing.
Yoga is essentially about attitude – that is a STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
Believing in the unity of the universe (including ourselves!) would be
enough, however our attitudes, our pride and prejudices prevent this. We
work and live from an image we have of ourselves rather than from our
own true nature.
So how was yoga born? Over time, as human beings realised that they were
losing contact with their own true natures, they began turning their
attention within. They began exploring and observing, in an effort to
regain this connection. ‘Yoga is the totality of the efforts made by
human nature, by its own means to maintain or re-establish contact with
itself [with its integral nature].’
So how do we become more aware of our true nature?
Be aware of yourself in the moment before you start the yoga
experience and in the moment directly after it.
Be open and ready for anything that may happen in your practice.
Be honest in your practice and with everyone else – there are no
differences.
No judgement of the experience.
Be clear in your observations without labelling – build on reality not
on illusion.
Notice how you approach doing something – it is as important as doing
the task / act / asana – and directly correlate’s to what happens next.
It was suggested to us therefore not to practice yoga for a specific
purpose! Instead of doing yoga permit your consciousness to allow you to
contact the Infinite, in this way you allow yoga to do you! If you have
a purpose you are limiting yourself and then you are NOT in yoga. If you
do yoga as you live your life, by for example using too many unnecessary
muscles without even realising it, then yoga won’t be able to change
anything in your life. In contrast if you allow yoga to do you, to
become AWARE and to allow yoga to be revealed to you, then you can learn
and change can be brought into every aspect of you life.
1. Assessing your state of consciousness. Use this as a key to entering
the state of yoga.
How aware were you of entering the yoga space? When you lie down which
was the last muscle to relax? Which was the first muscle to contract as
you begin to move? This develops awareness and presence, here and now.
Activate your senses one at a time, ears, eyes, nose, taste and contact
on your skin.
2. Finding our Integral Nature in the centre of Akshara Yantra –
Energetic Architecture.
How do I find my centre? Look at the centre of a horizontal line, e.g. a
floorboard. Then find the centre of a vertical line, e.g. floor to
ceiling. Now find the centre of the room itself and then draw the three
centres together – what is the central point between all three points?
Or visualise your own centre, look at someone else in the room and
visualise their centre. Hold both points at the same time. By
establishing two poles and finding yourself in the centre – all
differences disappear.
Draw three axis’ –
1. From the crown of the head to a central point between the feet. This
represents the information line – from receptive information coming from
above to external information coming from below.
2. From the left to right of the body. This line represents the matter –
spirit line; matter to the left and spirit to the right.
3. From the back to the front of the body. This line represents the time
– energy line; time to the front and energy to the back.
Practicing asana elongates the body (physically and energetically)
between these axis’, working on and between the dimensions of time and
energy, spirit and matter etc. These axis’ are unchangeable and
stretching between them equally finds you suspended and thus your
personal centre becomes apparent.
Stand in Vrksasana, close your eyes and hold yourself steady. Tricky!
What is your connection to the vertical? Are you occupying the front /
back of your body excessively? Which is the more stable leg? With eyes
still closed try move head to the right then to the left – even
trickier!!
3. Prana / Apana Kriya:
Lie in semi-supine and straighten the right leg. Flex the right foot and
as you inhale raise the leg. At the end of the inhalation extend the
right foot and exhale the leg back to the floor slowly. Keep the
movement of the leg flowing with the movement of the breath.
Fix your attention on your breath and keep your breath as your focus.
Notice when your attention wanders. How do you bring your attention back
to your breath? Try rewinding your thoughts, retracing them from when
you become aware of the mind wandering, step by step so you can identify
which thought initially took your attention away from the breath. This
practice will train the mind and improve concentration.
4. The Tattvas.
These are the primary elements of existence and demonstrate how energy
is transformed from one element to the other.
Prithivi – Earth – corresponds to bones and the solid form.
Apas – Water – corresponds to plasma and blood. Life.
Tejas – Fire – corresponds to heat, the process of metabolism – light.
Vayu – Air – corresponds to the transmission of energy, emotions, breath
and intention. Time.
Akasha – Ether – corresponds to communication, thoughts and attitude.
Space.
Each tattva is related to a different sense in the body – Prithivi to
smell, Apas to taste, Tejas to sight, Vayu to touch and Akasha to
hearing – sound is said to be associated with the process of creation!
Each of the Tattvas flows from the gross to the etheric state. Lord Siva
constantly creates, sustains and absorbs back into Himself His
creations. Rishis describe this process as the unfoldment of the Tattvas,
or stages of manifestation, descending from the subtle to the gross.
None of the Tattvas are mutually exclusive; each energy has all the
aspects of the others. For example Prithivi of the mind is memory.
Meditation can be enhanced by focussing on a solid state, of form –
Prithivi. Difficulties in finding a central solid state can be aided by
the use of Apas (water) and movement of the body. The movement in Apas
is aided by Tejas in visualising a shape of an asana. Asana requires an
elongation from fixed points to a point in Infinite space, this I
believe to be the metaphysical aspect of asana, linking us to the energy
of the universe. The energy of Tejas is gathered further with the body
in extension, this in turn stimulates Vayu. The transmission of energy
through Vayu is the basis of thought. This evolves to the unmanifest
state of Akasha, through which sound connects us to the process of
creation.
The Tattvas can be used to heal. For example mental problems (imbalance
in Akasha) can be healed through bodywork (Prithivi). The stagnation of
Prithivi can be healed by the fluidity of Apas. The dispersion of Apas
is focussed by Tejas. The heat of Tejas and the energy of emotions is
healed by Vayu. The breath and emotions of Vayu is likewise healed by a
change of attitude (Akasha).
Mihai and Ovidiu also spoke extensively on the significance of mudras
and the importance of words and their meanings. They certainly inspired
us with plenty of food for thought and I would highly recommend their
work to everyone.
Claire Taylor, IYA Dip 08
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