Practice with Swamiji
Gentle yoga movements strengthen the back to prevent and alleviate pain. Begin with complete relaxation, releasing tension from toes to head. Focus on natural breath. Proceed with gentle spinal twists and stretches while lying down, moving knees side to side. These movements release stiffness without force. Strengthen the parallel back muscles by raising the upper body while prone. Practice concentration by sitting on the toes and focusing on a single point. Consistency is key; practice these gentle postures daily to build a foundation for more advanced practice. This harmonizes body and mind.
"Relax your whole body from the toes to the top of the head and from the top of the head to the toes."
"When they are strong, then we don’t have pain, back pain problems."
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Pranayam and peace
Prāṇāyāma leads the practitioner through peace to concentration, meditation, and Samādhi.
During prāṇāyāma, the vṛttis realize deep peace. This brings dhāraṇā, complete awareness of one object. Concentration is like a steady candle flame. From it comes dhyāna, merging into oneness with the object. Knowledge, knower, and object unite, beginning Samādhi. Samādhi resembles deep sleep, where the soul rests. But meditation offers more than everyday sleep. It is not achieved by expecting or forcing. Just be, and techniques will lead there. Prāṇāyāma purifies body and brain. It develops concentration and joy in the heart. The mantra sustains the flow, like a waterfall from above. Realize the ātmā in all beings. Sacrifice kāma, krodha, and other vices. Prāṇāyāma raises prāṇa to the sahasrāra cakra. This brings Brahmānanda. Practice systematically in Yoga in Daily Life.
"Peace and bliss are the result of the satsaṅg."
"In meditation, there is more than that. That is called everyday samādhi."
Filming location: Vép, Hungary
Prakrti - The mother nature
A remedy for joint health and the duty of a teacher to connect with nature.
A yearly treatment for joints involves a specific food preparation. Combine roasted fenugreek and whole wheat flour with ghee, almonds, jaggery, and spices to form laddūs. Consume one each morning for about a month during the cold season, avoiding other oils and specific foods like tomatoes, yogurt, and sour fruits. This regimen strengthens knees, back, and joints, and is beneficial post-childbirth. Nature provides incomparable peace and is essential for practice. A teacher must guide students into natural settings for silent retreats, fostering harmony and equal vision. Avoid gossip and personal complaints; create an atmosphere where all feel respected and leave happy. Like a tree, offer shelter and sustenance without retaliation, serving selflessly.
"Eat one laddū every morning... do not consume any other kind of oil."
"Oh my mind, be like a tree... I endure their nastiness. I give them my fruit instead of a stone."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
Iyengar Yoga During Pregnancy: A Synthesis of Tradition and Experience
Yoga is a unified science of experience, transmitted through specific methodologies for application in life. The term "Iyengar Yoga" refers to one such tradition, emphasizing precision and the use of props to make the experience of āsanas accessible to all, regardless of condition. This approach allows for stability and comfort in any circumstance. The practice is supported by both long-term observation and formal research, which shows physiological changes, such as increased GABA levels, correlating with reduced anxiety and depression.
Applying this methodology to pregnancy involves strengthening the body and mind to manage stress and physiological changes. Specific, supported āsanas can address common issues like back pain and prepare for delivery. Crucially, practice must be guided by an experienced teacher within a framework of safety, collaborating with modern medicine rather than opposing it. The same principles apply in managing conditions like cancer, where yoga practices modulate stress responses, improve immune function, and help manage treatment side effects, contributing to better quality of life. The goal is always balance and integration.
"Āsanas are descriptions, not prescriptions."
"Samatvaṁ yoga ucyate. Balance is yoga."
Filming location: Delhi, India
The Journey Beyond the Three States
Closing words on the 16th day celebration of Matajis Mahasamadhi from Bhari Khatu, Rajasthan, India.
