Session 6
Contemplation:
The Pause is a place of possibility. The pause is a place of power. The pause is a place of purpose. -Octavia Raheem
Reflection:
How is noticing intentional khumbaka or that natural pause between inhale and exhale for you? What do you notice in that pause?
What is the role of pause in your daily life? If present, how do pauses help you garner presence and guide your toward purpose?
Session 5
Luminosity at Center
Contemplation:
Inner stability is found through contemplating the luminous effulgence - the pillar of luster - within - Patanjali Yoga Sutras 2.218
Reflection:
What practices, rituals, or routines help support your sense of luminosity, centeredness, and/or stability?
Session 4
The Luminous Paths of Sun + Moon Within
Contemplation:
Inner stability is found through contemplating the luminous effulgence - the pillar of luster - within - Patanjali Yoga Sutras 2.218
Reflection:
Knowing the different possible benefits/categories of pranayama, how might you wisely utilize different categories and techniques to protect or support your vital energy?
How is that over service to something greater than yourself?
Session 3
Prana: within, greater than, and beyond breath
Contemplation:
“In Vedic Scripture, prāṇa is the spirit of the universe. The breath is material and outer, but the prāṇa [life force] carried by the breath is subtle, unseeable. Prāṇa is within the breath, and yet, greater than the breath. This is the primal life force of everything that exists, including you.” ~ Kaya Mindlin
Reflection:
Have you noticed any subtle shifts that have come from spending a little more time with your breath and prana?
Are you sensing any difference between breath and prana?
There’s no right answer here; what you notice might feel beneficial, complex, or still unfolding!
Session 2
Contemplation:
“To breathe is to absorb ourselves in what surrounds us, to take in little bits of life, understand them, and give pieces of ourselves back out.
Respiration is, at its core, reciprocation.”
- James Nestor
Reflection:
What have you noticed about the reciprocal relationship between:
Your seat and your spine and how you breathe
Your breath and your internal world
Your breath and the present moment
Are there other reciprocal relationships that you’ve noticed in your practice?
Session 1 - A Simple Start
Contemplation:
"Start in a simple way, it will take you all the way." - Swami Tattvavidānanda
Reflection:
What do you hope to gain from your time in PPG over the next 8 weeks?
Where in your daily routine could you add or expand or appreciate a short and simple moment of checking in with your breath, body, and prana?
Think 3 breaths upon waking or after a meal or before you tidy or sit for couch time. Connecting this to a current habit or routing can make it easier.
Especially, if you’ve answered this question before on your in PPG, reflect on what has shifted in and what has remained constant in your “answer” and within yourself since then and now.
Lil’ Extras
Q+A: Blocked Nostrils.
Here’s a quick demo of how one could gently widen their nasal passage during Nadi Shodhana. Some folks in the yogic tradition suggest a practice known as Jala Neti. Here is helpful video from my teacher Arundhati from Aham Yoga explaning the process. Do use distilled or recently boiled, but cooled water. Please know this is not medical advise.
