Uplift the Body & Prana
with Yogi Ashokananda
 |
| Jumping Warriors working up a sweat with Yogi Ashokananda @ Om Yoga Show Manchester 2015 |
Entering
this workshop you would not expect the larger than life personality that springs
out of this gentle and petite individual who incidentally turns out to be a
surprisingly powerful teacher. His unexpected yet delightful humour lifts each
yogi as the poses build and each are put through their paces, his encouragement
creates the confidence in participants to try more advanced poses and to see
just how far they can really go beyond their fears or disbelief.
The
journey starts with breathing and yogis are encouraged to engage the root lock at
the perineum (Mula Bandha) as they inhale, effectively sealing in the prana
from each new breath and releasing the lock on exhalation. Yogis are also instructed
to curl the tip of their tongue up to touch the roof of their mouths; this
encourages ujjayi breathing, activates the diaphragm and regulates the appetite
it also prevents jaw tension building up during practise.
Yogis
are encouraged to not let their muscles be lazy and poses are demonstrated with
accuracy throughout the workshop, there are cleansing Kriyas and a series of
asana that twist the body into new realms releasing both physical and emotional
toxins held within. The Yogis work up a sweat as the class progresses and the
energy in the room rises as they jump through a series of warriors alternating their
leading and back leg with arms constantly raised.
The
workshop ends without a svasana as Yogi Ashokananda expresses with a light hearted
voice, “I don’t teach svasana because we all sleep at night anyway”… The Yogis
are gifted with bursts of laughter though heightened by the comments of
Ashokananda as he encourages everyone to really let themselves go, his laughing
becomes hysterical in itself which makes everyone laugh even more. He stresses
how important it is to laugh daily explaining how you don’t even have to find
something funny to laugh at as your brain doesn’t actually know the difference
it just knows you are laughing and produces the happy chemicals anyway, so
treat yourself and make sure you laugh every day!
"May your feet have the courage to walk where your heart beats" Yogi Ashokonanda
Example
of Ashokananda practicing Kriya
