Tree of Life: The TRUNK

Tree of Life: The TRUNK

Yoga is not a religion. It does not replace religion, but is a wonderful complement. Yoga welcomes all religious backgrounds or none at all. It teaches that we are spiritual beings in human form. Our bodies are a temporary vehicle through which we are having a human experience that should edify our souls. It teaches LOVE.

Yoga philosophy believes that each of us has a soul - ATMAN. We also have the mind and body. Our true identity can only be found when these are blended into one unified whole: Holistic. This is the TRUNK of yoga, the foundation. As branches extend from the Tree of Life, the branches of yoga extend from this grounding principle. This includes the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 200 A.D.

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Balasana | Child's Pose

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Mountain Pose - Tadasana

Mountain Pose - Tadasana

• Spread your toes and plant all four corners of your feet solidly beneath you.  Imagine roots growing out of the soles of your feet grabbing deep into the earth below you.
• Lengthen and lift your straight spine and feel your head floating evenly above you. 
• Tuck in your tailbone as if you were carrying a full bowl of water in your hips you do not want to spill.
• Pay subtle attention to your breath.
• Expand your side ribs with each inhale and let your roots grow deeper into the earth, sucking in earth energy.  Exhale and soften your belly.  Feel energy flowing in through the crown.
• Allow your in-breath and out-breath amplify svaha ("Hail" or "So be it")
• Accept each inhale as a divine blessing and with each exhale surrender to the present moment.
• Feel a sense of weightlessness and connectedness with all beings and all energies in the universe.

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Downward Facing Dog

Downward Facing Dog - Adho Mukha Svasana

• Releases and lengthens neck and spine
• Calms & stimulates the mind and CNS
• Balancing
• Strengthens shoulders & arms
• Cleanses and massages internal organs
• Tones the sciatic nerve
• Improves the flow of blood & prana to thyroid, thymus, pituitary, and pineal glands
• Stimulates the Endocrine system
• Improves strength of spine and increases bone density in the spine
• Stretches shoulders, wrists, ankles, and hamstrings
• Stimulates the 4 upper chakras

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Pratyahara

5. PRATYAHARA: the fifth limb of The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali
Withdrawal of the senses.  Can occur during meditation, breathing exercises, or yoga postures (asanas).  It is anytime you're directing your thoughts and attention inward.  Your focus is no longer interrupted by distractions.
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Asana

3. ASANA: The third limb of The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali
Asanas are the exercise postures of yoga.  Mountain pose, tree pose, child's pose, happy baby pose, warrior I, warrior II, downward dog, and plank are all examples.
Patanjali compares the asanas to resting like the cosmic serpent on the waters of infinity.  Asanas prepare the body for meditation by freeing the body and mind from tension and restlessness.  Then you can meditate on the infinite.
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Asana

Asana
Originally meant the seat of yogi's.  In the Yoga sutras, Patanjali suggests that asana is "to be seated in a position that is firm, but relaxed" for extended, or timeless periods.
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