The Magnificent Seven:
The Dhatus in Yoga
In Yoga and Ayurveda, the body is made from seven primary tissues called dhatus. The term dhatu means to hold or support and the seven—plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, nerve and reproductive fluid—are the building blocks for the entire body. In this course we discover how all yoga practices from meditation to asana and from diet to pranayama serve to enhance the function of these essential seven tissues. We begin by exploring the ground substance of rasa, the progenitor of all 7 tissues. We include a day on nutritional and dietary health for building the blood. We use select yoga practices and somatic movements to generate optimal health in the muscle, fat, bone and nervous system. Lastly, we will see how the reproductive system is not limited to procreation, but in yoga is the most vital tissue in the body to support radiant health and immunity (ojas).
Day 1: Plasma
We start with the fluids—embryonic, cellular, extra-cellular, and protoplasma—that give rise to all tissues of the body. These fluids have their own rhythm and tidal flow and bear their own intelligence. We do practices to enhance the potency and flow of the “groundwater” of the body.
Day 2: Blood
Blood is created from the food we eat thus the samana region (the solar plexus), “the hearth”, is critical to sustaining the vitality of the body. We study how diet and nutrition is integral to building blood. We do practices to increase internal “bathing” by circulating blood through twists, forward bends, and inversions.
Day 3: Muscle
Hatha Yoga as we know it today primarily targets flexibility and strength in the myofascia. We examine the role of the smooth and striated muscle, the properties of collagen and the perifascia around the organs. We address optimal diet for muscular health and practice movements for both the superficial and deep fascia.
Day 4: Fat
While we tend to think of fat as negative, fat plays a crucial role in energy storage, lubrication, protection, and sensory awareness. We explore the role of diet and metabolism on the honey-combed lipid cells. Practices include side bends, twists, and back arches.
Day 5: Bone
The bone houses both vitality and longevity for the entire body. In practice we build more solid bones by taping into the rich reserves of the bone marrow. We do supine poses to release the bones and standing poses and inversions to conduct electrical flow through the boney tissue.
Day 6: Nerve
Hatha Yoga increases sensory flow through the nerve tissue, and coherency of the nervous system brings a feeling of delight to the entire body/mind. We investigate the effects of diet, pranayama, and mind states on the nervous system. Practices include back arches, inversions, and pranayama.
Day 7: Semen/Ovum
The final tissue, the reproductive tissue, is thought to be the most refined of all the tissues - and Hatha Yoga is designed to safeguard the vitality of this dhatu. The reproductive tissue is closely paired to immunity, physical vitality, and longevity. We study male and female reproductive health and practice hip, inner groin, and lower abdominal releases.
When: September 7, 9, 14, 16, 27, 28 | 9:00 - 11:30am Mountain Time
and
September 29 | 7:00 - 9:30am Mountain Time
Important Information
**The Dhatus in Yoga is good for 18-Hours of Continuing Education hours through Yoga Alliance, and can be applied towards required hours for the Prajna Yoga Therapy Track.
**Please note ALL Live Zoom sessions will be recorded should you be unable to attend any live streams. Course materials are available for 90 days.
**Have your props handy! We recommend two blocks, blankets, a thick bolster, an 8’ or 10’ belt/strap, and a backless Iyengar chair (modifications will be given if you do not have a chair). We recommend yogaoutlet.com and Manduka for props; backless chairs can be found on Amazon and Etsy.
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.