Asana and Pranayama

Asana and Pranayama

Raja Yoga

Asana and Pranayama are stage three and four on the eight fold path of Patanjali’s Raja Yoga

The traditional ancient text on Raja yoga is the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. According to the Raja yoga system asanas (yoga postures) are the stepping stones which prepare the Aspirant or Sadhaka for higher stages of Yoga such as Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and the ultimate attainment Samadhi.

The external stages of Yoga are described in chapter two 'Sadhana Pada" it supplies the means whereby you can enter the esoteric stages of Yoga mentioned in Chapter three 'Vibhuti Pada" which are Dharana (concentration) Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (Self-Realisation or attunement to the oneness of the ultimate self).

Before Patanjali mentions Asana and pranayama-in the very first sutra (verse) of chapter two he mentions Kriya yoga as the discipline for Sadhana which can awaken total inner awareness and surrender. In Chap2.v1 Patanjali says that

Tapahsvadhyayeshvarapranidhanani kriyaayogah

Tapas, Swadhyaya and Ishwara Pranidhana constitute Kriya Yoga

To ready yourself for Kriya yoga and the higher stages of Esoteric yoga mentioned in Chap3 the aspirant should take to the practice of Asana to make the body healthy, strong supple etc. The classical Meditation Asanas are required e.g. Siddhasana, Padmasana etc., but to be able to sit in absolute ease for 1,2,3 hours at a stretch the body needs to practice many other Yogasanas.

These asanas not only make the aspirant healthy, supple etc which is a prerequisite but they also make you it is said mentally and Psychically strong so that you can endure the opposites of cold and heat, happiness and sadness etc. When one has the ability to sit comfortably in a classical Meditation asana one begins Pranayama. This involves various techniques of "Prana Nigraha" breathing techniques, which are explained in v50, and v51which involve Kumbhaka (breath Retention).

“Pranayama is a powerful method of creating yogic fire to heat the kundalini and awaken It”. Quote by Swami Satyananda Saraswati.

Ultimately Kumbhaka affects the Cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the very sensitive spinal cord (Sushumna) and the Brain, which forms the central nervous system. What happens next has not been scientifically scrutinized but the infinite potentiality of energy in Mooladhara Chakra definitely releases some consciousness revealing experiences when the Cerebrospinal fluid becomes highly activated (Charged) and it (the charged energy) starts to rise up in the Central Canal of the spinal cord, towards the brain. As this begins to happen different levels in the Nervous system are awakened, producing mind-blowing experiences and altered states of consciousness .

This is the realm of Sushumna and potentially Kundalini awakening. This area is the interface between the known physiology of the human body (Neurochemistry, Physics and its laws of operation) and the scientifically yet uncharted areas of pure consciousness and the evolutionary energy of Maha Kundalini.

The Central Canal is collapsed in most areas of the adult spinal cord, but in some places (and in young children) remains open, lined with ependymal cells, and filled with CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid)₄

_{Mysteriously the central canal which is formed by the neural fold or
plate in the spinal cord}

_{is the
first manifestation of a human being to appear in a zygote (unborn child).}

_{Yogis have long known the key to transcendence lied in Sushumna}

_{“We return from whence we came”}

Thereafter in v52 it says, "that which is veiling the light is removed. This happens spontaneously when Kevala Kumbhaka (breath suspension) occurs and Sushumna awakens automatically. This reveals the Chakras , Lokas etc. and connects one to previously unawakened Neural circuitry. Then Ajapa Japa or real Kriya Yoga are experienced in absolute tranquillity and stillness of breath and mind. This is the stairway to the esoteric higher stages of Raja yoga. Raja Yoga is sometimes known as the Royal path.

Sadly many Yoga schools say that they teach Raja yoga, but they forget before meditation comes Pranayama, which must be mastered first. If you have read the Biographies and teachings of some realised masters of higher yoga, you will see all have utilized the techniques of Pranayama before initiation into Higher Yogas.

Examples are:

Lahiri Mahasay₁ from Varanasi who attained Mahasamadhi in 1895. He is said to be the modern day father of the ancient Kriya Yoga tradition. In Lahiri Mahasay's biography it is reported that before he was initiated into Kriya Yoga by Babaji, that he practiced Pranayama religiously, daily for 25years.

Param Guru Swami Sivananda₂ practiced Pranayama and Swara Yoga when he was a Doctor in Malaya, before he renounced and went to Rishikesh for Sannyasa. It is said by Swami Satyananda in his early teachings book that during Swami Sivananda's period of Tapasya and Sadhana that he was also initiated into Kriya Yoga by Babaji, and asked to build a mission.

Swami Satyananda₃(Paramahamsaji) even today attests to the potency of Pranayama and says that without Pranayama there is no real Bhakti

SOME FUTURE PRANAYAMA RESEARCH THOUGHTS

Do you remember the old saying that those that only half breathe only half live, or have you ever heard the saying that Pranayama and Kriya Yoga are like gymnastics for the central nervous system. I believe this is so true.

Once at a Satsang by Swami Satyananda Saraswati on Kundalini Yoga, Swamiji spoke of negative ions, kumbhaka, and the increased concentrations of carbon dioxide.

This Satsang by Swamiji triggered a flood of thoughts on Pranayama that I had been thinking over for years, and because the internet is a good platform to ask some questions and get some answers or stimulate some thought, I submit them now for future Yoga Researchers

Quoting Swamiji’s statements, “increased levels of carbon dioxide increase the human organisms ability to assimilate ions”. I have been thinking about this for years as I gradually started to learn kumbhaka (breath retention) ratios in Pranayama such as Nadi Shodhan. For example the ratio I use is 1:4:2:1

BELOW ARE SOME OF MY THOUGHTS ON PRANAYAMA

· Question: Does the net gain of carbon dioxide perfusion lead to vaso dilation in the brain and give the distant capillaries in the brain an important flush of blood, nutrients and prana.

· The central nervous system regulates pH, and in Yoga we work with and make extremely versatile the CNS. Variations to the set points of pH are looked after by the Chemoreceptors which tell us when to breathe, and when we increase the concentration of CO₂ in the bloodstream through pranayamas it effects the CO₂ concentration level in the cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounding the the spinal cord, the brain and inside of the cerebrospinal canal, (the mystical Sushumna).

· Molecular CO₂ crosses the blood brain barrier diffusing easily, liberating Hydrogen ions. My mind flashes to deep see free divers who in fact practice pranayama, at least the world champs do. They report euphoria and altered states of consciousness often, and as a diving friend of mine (who has a science degree) told me in a conversation about the phenomena: they build up a CO₂ tolerance. And that is one of the benefits we get with pranayama.

· What goes on chemically around the spinal cord and the brain, and inside the central canal of the spinal cord intrigues me very much. See diagrams below

· Question: Do the liberated ions make headway through the central canal of the spinal cord or Sushumna Nadi? See diagrams below

· Question: Does the neck position in Jalandara bandha, which is used with many of the Kriyas of Kriya Yoga and many Pranayamas stimulate the carotid chemoreceptors into play, thus having a profound effect on the breath and mind

· Yogis train for years with Pranayamas and Kriyas, so the usual fears of pH extremes resulting with acidosis and alkolosis are highly unlikely. This I believe would happen to untrained persons only and most Yogis (Sadhak’s) look very much forward to altered states of consciousness.

PRANAYAMA RESEARCHERS OF THE FUTURE WILL BENEFIT BY TREADING THIS PATH

Validate the mystical science of in depth Yoga and you will serve the hidden evolutionary plan of mankind.

Click here for my thoughts on Pranayama as it applies in Classical Hatha Yoga and more.

Swara Yoga and States of Consciousness ~ note: breath cycles

Above ~ Ventricles of the Brain

The flow route of the Cerebrospinal Fluid

Awakening Kundalini

Via

Pranayama

LAYA YOGA

When a sufficiently prepared aspirant practises intense pranayama in a calm, cool and quiet environment, preferably at a high altitude, with a diet only sufficient to maintain life, the awakening of kundalini takes place like an explosion. In fact, the awakening is so rapid that kundalini ascends to sahasrara immediately.

Pranayama is not only a breathing exercise or a means to increase prana in the body; it is a powerful method of creating yogic fire to heat the kundalini and awaken it. However, if it is practised without sufficient preparation, this will not occur because the generated heat will not be directed to the proper centers. Therefore, jalandhara, uddiyana and moola bandhas are practised to lock the prana in and force it up to the frontal brain.

When pranayarna is practised correctly, the mind is automatically conquered. However, the effects of pranayama are not that simple to manage. It creates extra heat in the body, it awakens some of the centers in the brain and it can hinder the production of sperm and testosterone. Pranayama may also lower the temperature of the inner body and even bring down the rate of respiration and alter the brain waves.

Unless you have practised the shatkarmas first and purified body to a degree, when these changes take place, may not be able to handle them.

There are two important ways of awakening kundalini— one is the direct method and the other is the indirect.

Pranayama is the direct method. The cxperiences it brings about are explosive and results are attained very quickly. Expansion is rapid and the mind attains quick metamorphosis.

However, this form of kundalini awakening is always accompanied by certain experiences, and for one who is not sufficiently prepared mentally, philosophically, physically and emotionally, these experiences can be terrifying. Therefore, although the path of pranayama is a jetset method, it is drastic and is considered to be a very difficult one that every body cannot manage.

Satyananda Swami Satyananda

Bihar Schol of Yoga

Munger, Bihar, India

References

1. Giri, Swami Satyaswarananda (1983)

Lahiri Mahasay the polestar of Kriya

The Sanskrit Classics ,San Diego, U.S.A

2. Saraswati, Swami Satyananda (1988)

Early teachings of Swami Satyananda

Bihar School of Yoga , Munger , Bihar , India

3 Saraswati, Swami Janakananda (2000)

Bindu number 13" On the path to greater awareness"

Haa Course Centre

Hamneda, Sweden

4 Saladin, Kenneth S (2001)

Anatomy & Physiology: the Unity of form and function

2^nd Ed, Mc Graw-Hill

New York

Swami Mounamurti Saraswati

mailto:satyamyoga.com@bigpond.com

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Last modified 15 July 2006