Is there anything as tantalising as chakras? 😍 Of course not,
They are beautiful, mystical, they increase our prana (life force) and exist on many levels.
How do we teach them in a yoga class?
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Hint: it's best to start at the heart centre
Chuckle. The trick is not to pontificate about them, but rather empower your students by adding some chakra awareness into your class. Just a bit to start with. As the class progresses, of course you can add more. One of the reasons for taking things a bit slower, is that we can overstimulate people by not really knowing what we are doing. Anything that increases our pranic (life force) levels, generally makes us feel better, and happier. However, add to this the stimulation of the pressure points along our meridians from doing the asanas, and we can be making things a bit hard, mentally and emotionally, for students when we start to add chakras to our classes.
"blockages" in chakras
Why? Because our emotional blocks are contained within the pressure points, and we can also have some blockages within the chakras in the aura. And any stimulation, expansion of the auric chakras, can cause our emotions to be a bit wobbly if we overdo it. So, short, sweet and simple to begin with is the best way to go. We want our students to return because their experiences were so wonderful.
external and internal levels of chakras are very different
We know that chakras are touching our body in our aura/energy field surrounding our body. But the also exist, as part of the same chakras, but on a deeper, much more spiritual level, within our spiritual spine (sushumna). The external part of each chakra is connected to the spiritual part, by a psychic tube. Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, long Passed Over, said that these internal tubes (nadis) are for astral matter. we can just know that the prana in them does indeed build up and affects both inner and outer parts.
The very best beginning way to stimulate the inner aspects is by working with the outer aspects.
Generally speaking, the intensity of the auric level of the chakras, is far less than the experience of the chakra levels contained within the spiritual spine. There is a massive difference. And, despite what many people think, it actually is not easy for most to awaken them on this internal/spiritual level.
Nervous system and nadis
Another important aspect to know, is that the traditional poses (not the modern, made-up ones), are very beneficial for the plexus that is related to each chakra. These plexuses have nerves emanating from each of them, and we are building up the energy of these nerves. On a deeper more spiritual level, these same nerves are called nadis. Nadi means flow, and in this case, it's a flow of prana along the tubular pathways that relate to the plexus nerves. Now these nadis, are separate from the nadis going from the inside edge of the body where a chakra enters, to the spiritual spine where the chakras proper, reside.
The energy in these particular nadis, can be beneficially and gently built up with chakra work. Starting with chakras in poses is a great, doable way to start.
Our glands
Each major chakra also relates to a ductless gland. These glands release hormones directly into the bloodstream. So, this is another way that traditional poses, help create good health.
I know that these days, many people think that it's all about alignment and muscles. These, however, are western, modern ways of looking at asanas.
How to start
The very easiest way, and I do feel that it's the kindest and most beneficial way, is to use the heart chakra point on the centre of the chest. You can call the external chakras "centres" if you wish. It does make things easier.
Start with being aware of this point with hands in namaste/greeting/prayer.
I mainly do this standing. So to start and finish your standing poses would be excellent. If you're starting your standing poses in a Hatha class, you can do balance poses straight after, as people will be calm and relaxed. When I've finished the standing poses, I do it again. Just being aware of that point.
If you're doing vinyasa, do this to start, and before you go to the floor for backwards, abdominals, and other floor poses. If you're doing vinyasa flows, you can do this between each flow as well. Another option is after your surya namaskaras.
If you start a class seated, you can do it to start, calm, and come into one pointedness.
You can also do this seated, at the end of the class to finish.
Tip: generally speaking, you don't need to hold for long.
Start simple, and small, as described, and as time goes on, you can build up from there. A bit at a time.
I'll explain more in another post. In the meantime.... don't do overkill. Start with one time in a class and build up gradually. You'll get the best results this way.
Your classes will love the added factor. Best wishes with it. More to follow.
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Hi, Swami Ratnamurti - Thank you for this explanation. It sounds very complicated. But I have been focusing on first the root chakra a couple of months ago and now on the sacral for the next two months. I have been doing affirmations, colors, crystals, sound healing and a sacral yoga session now and then. So this was interesting - Angie, www.yourtrueselfblog.com
ReplyDeleteNice to hear from you again, Angie xx :) I've pm'd you on messenger
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