Anatomy of the Vayus | Day 3: Prana
Prana resides in the heart and is the gateway to the experience of lightness and joy. In this day we concentrate on opening the upper rib area, the sternum and collar bones in order to improve elasticity of the lungs. Our emphasis is on releasing restriction in the diaphragm and to refining the movement of the breath. We explore the ways that grief, depression, and joy are governed by prana. We do backbends, inversions, meditation, and pranayama with focus on inhalation.
Cost: $150 per day, or $725 for all 5 days
Curriculum
- Prana | Dharma, Verses, & Introduction
- Prana | Anatomical Structure
- Watch: Prana Vayu Anatomy Lecture with Tias (55:03)
- Prana | Asanas, Pranayama, and Chakra
- Prana | Causes of Deterioration & Strengthening Practices
- Prana | Therapeutic Applications
- Guided Meditation: Prana Vayu | Expanding Outward
- Reading: Prana | Yoga of the Subtle Body, Chapter 5 "The Diaphragm" and Chapter 6 "The Lungs and the Lotus Heart"
- View Recording - Day 3: Prana (176:20)
Prajna Yoga: Tias & Surya Little
In Sanskrit, the word Prajna means insight, deep understanding, and mindfulness. It suggests a dynamic embodied wisdom that permeates every cell and every tissue in the body. We believe that yoga is a pathway that begins in the outer layers of the body and mind and navigates inward to the mystical, subtle, and rarely seen interior. We combine meditative practice with the power and grace of asana training. In a process that requires sensitivity and inner listening, we explore the sheaths of connective tissue, muscle, and bone in order to bring about greater wakefulness, luminosity, and space within. Prajna Yoga makes its home in the foothills of Santa Fe, New Mexico, at the founders’ home, Tias and Surya Little, where they have lived since 1997.
Opening the Inner Currents of Prana:
Anatomy of the Vayus
In the earliest yoga practices, the life force in the body is thought to flow through tubules, channels or vessels, in the way that wind or water flows in currents. In yoga, the vayus are “wind channels”, that conduct the flow of nerves blood and lymph. Understanding the nature of each vayu is crucial to harmonizing the subtle flow of prana in the body and to establishing health and vitality. Tias will guide students through an in-depth investigation of the five primary winds in the body and through yoga asana, pranayama, and SATYA (Sensory Awareness Training for Yoga) and activate or mitigate the strength of each vayu. We will investigate the structures and the associated physiological functions of each vayu and map out the vayus’ location in the body.
In a process that requires sensitivity and inner listening, we explore the pathways of the muscle, bones and nerves in order to bring greater wakefulness to movement within the vayus. Through dharma study, guided meditation, yoga nidra, somatic awareness and yoga postures this is a transformational week of practice and study. In this intensive we will investigate poems of awakening from the historical Yoga, Taoist, and Zen traditions.
Each day includes seated meditation, chanting and inspirational dharma teaching followed by Sensory Awareness Training (SATYA) involving floor work to unwind the body. We offer both dynamic and restorative yoga practices to balance and heal each vayu.
Study with Tias
Tias has a unique and skillful teaching style, enabling students to find greater depth of understanding and awareness in their practice. His approach is inter-disciplinary, passionate, intelligent, and insightful. Tias synthesizes years of study in classical yoga, Sanskrit, Buddhist studies, Somatic practices, anatomy, massage and trauma healing.
Personal Transformation
Underlying our teaching is that we do not do poses for the sake of the pose, but for the quality of the attention within the pose. Through yoga postures, dharma study, guided meditation, the yoga of sound, somatic awareness, and dream work, this is a practice that allows for unique and personal transformation.
Honoring Lineage
Prajna Yoga has many different influences via a variety of lineages. Our teaching is a direct expression of the many devoted masters and practitioners who proceed us on this path. Like a bead on a mala, our work is linked to a long history of meditative practices. Thus we are part of a living, breathing dynamic tradition.