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oga Hatha Yoga Life/Soul is like a clear mirror, the body is dust on it. Beauty in us is not perceived, for we are under the dust. Jalaludin Rumi. ¢ purpose of hatha yoga is the refinement of prana, the body’s energy flow. The other uses to which yoga are put are components of this prana refinement. Yoga can be practised maintain health, an art, as a preparation for meditation, or ameditation in itself. Even if a student comes to yoga with the sole intention of curing a backache, benefits will be experienced on subtler levels with steady practice. The controlled thorough stretching stimulates the acupunc- ture meridians. The organs and glands are compressed and stretched, promoting their correct function and the elimination of toxins. Joints and particularly the spine are kept “juicy” (supplied with fresh nutrients), reducing the possibility of arthritis and osteoporosis. The joints and spine are encouraged to maintain their correct alignment and full range of movement throughout life. Blood and lymph circu- lation is stimulated, especially by inverted postures such as the head Here are two postures for you to try: stand. Although the normal practice of yoga doesn’t develop a muscle- TADASANA man physique, it keeps muscles well-tuned and supple. Just as . importantly, the very conscious slow flowing movements of yoga Mountain improve co-ordination, balance and poise. Yoga is akin to an art-form. 1. Stand erect with your feet together, heels and big toes touching each As Yehudi Menuhin wrote: other. Rest the balls of your feeton the ground and stretch all your toes “The practice of yoga induces a primary sense of measure and flat. proportion. Reduced to our own body, our first instrument, we learn 2. Tighten your knees, pulling the knee-caps up, contract your hips and to play it, drawing from it maximum resonance and harmony. With pull up the muscles at the back of your thighs. unflagging patience we refine and animate every cell as we return 3. Keep the stomach in, chest forward, spine stretched up and the neck daily to the attack, unlocking and liberating capacities otherwise straight. condemned to frustration and death.” 4. Don’t bear the weight of the body either on the heels or the toes, but Furthermore the postures are beautiful in themselves and the distribute it evenly on them both. sensations you experience while practising them with relaxed con- 5. Ideally in Tadasana the arms are stretched out over the head, but you centration are exquisite. Excessive pain indicates incorrect and proba- can place them by the side of the thighs. bly impatient practice. This pose helps you master the correct method of standing. The practice of pranayama (breathing exercises) especially leads to a refinement of the nervous system, senses and sensibility. Al- VRKSASANA though yoga has a traditional system of ethics called yama and niyama, steady practice almost spontaneously leads to greater har- — Tree monisation of the individual and their interactions. 1. Stand in Tadasana. Hatha yoga is generally acknowledged to be a preparation for raja 2 Bend your right leg at the knee and place your right heel at the root yoga, i.e. meditation, since when the body is working perfectly it can of your left thigh. Rest the foot on the left thigh, toes pointing be forgotten for long periods of stillness. Hatha yoga can however, downwards. become a beautiful meditation in its own right, like Tai Chi. 3. Balance on your left leg, join the palms and raise your arms straight After sufficient practice you will master the postures so over your head. . thoroughly that you forget the rhythm, the movement, even yourself. 4. Stay for a few seconds in the pose breathing deeply. Then lower Atthis stage, you are in a trance; your five attributes (form, perception, your arms and separate the palms; straighten the right leg and stand consciousness, action and knowledge) are all empty - this is medita- again in Tadasana. tion in action and action in meditation. 5.Repeat the pose, standing on the right leg, placing the left heel at the There are many yoga schools, each with its own approach. In root of the right thigh. Stay for the same length of time on both sides, choosing a school you should be guided by how the classes feel. For come back to Tadasana and relax. instance, after the class do you feel sore and exhausted or energized This pose tones the leg muscles and gives you a sense of balance and relaxed? A beginner must expect a certain amount of soreness - and poise. you really discover parts of your body which you never knew existed. Emanuel or | NEXUS New Times Six - Spring 1988 29 Life/Soul is like a clear mirror, the body is dust on it. Beauty in us is not perceived, for we are under the dust. Jalaludin Rumi. ¢ purpose of hatha yoga is the refinement of prana, the body’s energy flow. The other uses to which yoga are put are components of this prana refinement. Yoga can be practised f 4 maintain health, an art, as a preparation for meditation, or ameditation 7 d in itself. Even if a student comes to yoga with the sole intention of Q curing a backache, benefits will be experienced on subtler levels with steady practice. The controlled thorough stretching stimulates the acupunc- ture meridians. The organs and glands are compressed and stretched, promoting their correct function and the elimination of toxins. Joints and particularly the spine are kept “juicy” (supplied with fresh nutrients), reducing the possibility of arthritis and osteoporosis. The i joints and spine are encouraged to maintain their correct alignment and full range of movement throughout life. Blood and lymph circu- lation is stimulated, especially by inverted postures such as the head Here are two postures for you to try: stand. Although the normal practice of yoga doesn’t develop a muscle- TADASANA man physique, it keeps muscles well-tuned and supple. Just as . importantly, the very conscious slow flowing movements of yoga Mountain improve co-ordination, balance and poise. Yoga is akin to an art-form. 1. Stand erect with your feet together, heels and big toes touching each As Yehudi Menuhin wrote: other. Rest the balls of your feeton the ground and stretch all your toes “The practice of yoga induces a primary sense of measure and flat. proportion. Reduced to our own body, our first instrument, we learn 2. Tighten your knees, pulling the knee-caps up, contract your hips and to play it, drawing from it maximum resonance and harmony. With pull up the muscles at the back of your thighs. unflagging patience we refine and animate every cell as we return 3. Keep the stomach in, chest forward, spine stretched up and the neck daily to the attack, unlocking and liberating capacities otherwise straight. condemned to frustration and death.” 4. Don’t bear the weight of the body either on the heels or the toes, but Furthermore the postures are beautiful in themselves and the distribute it evenly on them both. sensations you experience while practising them with relaxed con- 5. Ideally in Tadasana the arms are stretched out over the head, but you centration are exquisite. Excessive pain indicates incorrect and proba- can place them by the side of the thighs. bly impatient practice. This pose helps you master the correct method of standing. The practice of pranayama (breathing exercises) especially leads to a refinement of the nervous system, senses and sensibility. Al- VRKSASANA though yoga has a traditional system of ethics called yama and niyama, steady practice almost spontaneously leads to greater har- — Tree monisation of the individual and their interactions. 1. Stand in Tadasana. Hatha yoga is generally acknowledged to be a preparation for raja 2 Bend your right leg at the knee and place your right heel at the root yoga, i.e. meditation, since when the body is working perfectly it can of your left thigh. Rest the foot on the left thigh, toes pointing be forgotten for long periods of stillness. Hatha yoga can however, downwards. become a beautiful meditation in its own right, like Tai Chi. 3. Balance on your left leg, join the palms and raise your arms straight After sufficient practice you will master the postures so over your head. . thoroughly that you forget the rhythm, the movement, even yourself. 4. Stay for a few seconds in the pose breathing deeply. Then lower Atthis stage, you are in a trance; your five attributes (form, perception, your arms and separate the palms; straighten the right leg and stand consciousness, action and knowledge) are all empty - this is medita- again in Tadasana. tion in action and action in meditation. 5.Repeat the pose, standing on the right leg, placing the left heel at the There are many yoga schools, each with its own approach. In root of the right thigh. Stay for the same length of time on both sides, choosing a school you should be guided by how the classes feel. For come back to Tadasana and relax. instance, after the class do you feel sore and exhausted or energized This pose tones the leg muscles and gives you a sense of balance and relaxed? A beginner must expect a certain amount of soreness - and poise. you really discover parts of your body which you never knew existed. Emanuel or | NEXUS New Times Six - Spring 1988 29 Mountain Tree TADASANA VRKSASANA