Morning Yoga Sādhanā: Āsana, Prāṇāyāma, and Inner Stillness
Morning Yoga Sādhanā unites āsana, prāṇāyāma, and inner stillness during Brahmamuhūrta.
Feel the whole body on the floor, press the lower back down. Bicycle the legs with ankle rotation, then relax. Twist knees to one side, head opposite, with breath. In Pavanamuktāsana, press thigh to chest, keep shoulder blades down. Move through Mārjārī variations, rounding the back with inhalation. Practice Vyāghra Śvāsa, bringing knee to forehead, stretching the spine. Rowing warms the body, strengthening thighs with a straight back. Trikoṇāsana rotation stretches side muscles, deepening leg awareness. Skandāsana raises hips, improving low blood pressure quickly. Viparīta Kāraṇī Mudrā lifts legs, interlocking fingers, then relaxes. Kāṭha Praṇāma sequence transitions to Śaśāṅkāsana, subtly stretching the upper back. Half butterfly opens hips, pressing knees toward the floor. Breath flows from stomach to throat on inhalation, reversing on exhalation. Inner stillness arises through attentive movement and breath. Early morning practice fosters positivity and health. The session closes with relaxation, embracing the silence.
“We are in Brahmamuhūrta. Regarding this time, we all know it is a special part of the day … it is very good to do some positive and good things.”
“Skandāsana is a very good āsana if you have low blood pressure; it’s much faster and much healthier than early morning coffee.”
Filming location: Umag, Croatia
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Mana Saba Khoyo Re
The mind is lost in bad company.
The mind loses everything through negative association, abandoning the Guru's shelter and creating obstacles in devotion. Worldly life is a dream-like illusion that distracts and creates forgetfulness. Desire is an unquenchable thirst, leading one endlessly like a mirage. True refuge is found in the Satguru and authentic satsang, which are rare. Do not be confused by sensory temptations or false dreams of guidance. Wake from spiritual sleep. Through satsang, the soul awakens and gains liberation. Do not turn away from the Guru's word, for that path leads to the loss of meditation, devotion, and all good deeds.
"Je saṁsāra śvapnikī māyā dek bhul man mohe. This saṁsāra is an illusion of the dream."
"Vise ras mṛg tṛṣṇā pānī. In this desire of thirst, your thirst will never be quenched."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
Questions to Gurudev
Spiritual practice is an immeasurable inner process, not a quantifiable study. It cultivates humility and compassion, guided by the principle of non-violence: do not do to others what you dislike for yourself. Techniques like seeing auras are mere toys compared to this core development. Liberation is the culmination of lifelong practice, realized fully at life's end when no new karma is created. In physical practice, correct breathing is typically through the nostrils, though specific techniques may vary. Maintain total devotion and focus in your practice, as you would when driving. If confronted by overwhelming energy during meditation, you must seek to control it, for instance by opening your eyes and moving.
"To see the aura, to do this or that, is all for your contentment. There is an inner process, you know, that you cannot measure."
"Practice and practice and practice. Perfect mokṣa will be the last minutes of life. Because then there is no chance to do any karma."
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
Questions to Gurudev
Spiritual practice is an immeasurable inner process, not a quantifiable study. It cultivates humility and compassion, guided by the principle of non-violence: do not do to others what you dislike for yourself. Techniques like seeing auras are mere toys compared to this core development. Liberation is the culmination of lifelong practice, realized fully at life's end when no new karma is created. In physical practice, correct breathing is typically through the nostrils, though specific techniques may vary. Maintain total devotion and focus in your practice, as you would when driving. If confronted by overwhelming energy during meditation, you must seek to control it, for instance by opening your eyes and moving.
"To see the aura, to do this or that, is all for your contentment. There is an inner process, you know, that you cannot measure."
"Practice and practice and practice. Perfect mokṣa will be the last minutes of life. Because then there is no chance to do any karma."
