Prâna: History, Traditions, and Philosophy      

      By: Nils Thomas

“There is an energy created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, binds the universe together… Let go of your unconscious self, stretch out with your feelings.” Ben Kenobi 

Some of the earliest known writings, mnemonics, and orations from India allegorically and directly refer to Prana.

It is first mentioned in the Vedas, cir. 4500-1500 B.C.E. and arises continuously throughout later writings religious, philosophical and medicinal with strikingly similar parallels across diverse cultural and geographical divides, the world over.  It is something we hear spoken of in our daily practices, see writte...



Dynamics and use of Breath to Deepen and Open Yoga Practice

By: Nils Thomas



“When the asana is correct there is a lightness, a freedom. Freedom comes when every part of the body is active. Let us be free in whatever action we are doing. Let us be full in whatever we do.”  B.K.S. Iyengar



One of the fundamental foundations of yoga is the breath.
Indeed, without proper breath and breathing technique, it can be said our yoga postures are little more than acrobatics.
  As the tides and waves breathe and cycle life into the oceans, so too does our own breath ebb and flow with an unconscious rhythm bringing energy, calmness and stability.  The breath affects our emotions, moods, physicality and health....

What follows is the Sanskrit, transliteration, and English translation of the Ashtanga Yoga opening mantra, followed by a more detailed explanation of what the mantra means beyond the literal, and why we take the time to chant before we practice.

OPENING MANTRA

ॐ
वन्दे गुरूणां चरणारविन्दे सन्दर्शित स्वात्म सुखाव बोधे ।
निःश्रेयसे जङ्गलिकायमाने संसार हालाहल मोहशांत्यै ॥
आबाहु पुरुषाकारं शंखचक्रासि धारिणम् ।
सहस्र शिरसं श्वेतं प्रणमामि पतञ्जलिम् ॥
ॐ

auṁ

vande gurūṇāṁ caraṇāravinde
sandarśita svātma sukhāva bodhe
niḥ-śreyase jaṅgali-kāyamāne
saṁsāra hālāhala mohaśāṁtyai

ābāhu puruṣākāraṁ
śaṁkhacakrāsi dhāriṇam
sahasra śirasaṁ śvetaṁ
praṇamāmi patañjalim

auṁ

Om

I pray to the lotus feet of the supreme guru
Who...