Anatomy of the Vayus | Day 4: Udana
Udana is the upward rising breath located primarily in the throat and head. It is the most difficult of all the vayus to control. In this day, we will see how stress, psychological tension, and emotional strain result in constriction in the neck, jaw, and tongue. This class addresses the effects of jalandhara bandha related to the throat chakra. We do inversions, supported backbends, meditation, chanting, and pranayama.
Cost: $150 per day, or $725 for all 5 days
Curriculum
- Udana | Dharma, Verses, & Introduction
- Udana | Anatomical Structure
- Watch: Udana Vayu Anatomy Lecture with Tias (47:08)
- Udana | Asanas, Pranayama, and Chakra
- Udana | Causes of Deterioration & Strengthening Practices
- Udana | Therapeutic Applications
- Guided Meditation: Udana Vayu | The Rising Breath
- Reading: Udana | Yoga of the Subtle Body, Chapter 7 "Blue Throat"
- View Recording - Day 4: Udana (168:40)
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 Prajna Yoga
Whether you are looking to return to your center in your personal practice, become a certified yoga teacher in the methods of Prajna, expand your practice into yoga therapy or simply looking to learn from us online, we have offerings to meet you where you are.
The Prajna Symbol
The Prajna Yoga symbol is the Knot of Eternity. This design was chosen as it represents the inter-connectivity of all beings. The Knot of Eternity is one of the eight symbols that express veneration for the teachings of the Buddha.
Tias Little
Provocative, subtle, learned, and humorous, Tias’ offerings prove a delightful way to learn. His combination of creative language and anatomical detail is unparalleled in yoga today. While in-depth and profound, his way of being is approachable, generous, and kind.