Yoga Sutra 1:27 - Aum

1:27

Tasya vachakah pranavah तस्य वाचकः प्रणव 

The sacred word designating this creative source is the sound ॐ, called Pranava.

A scientific study has shown that chanting Aum for about 15 minutes everyday increases theta waves in your brain. When theta waves are predominant your mind is quiet and peaceful. A newborn baby has the most theta waves in her brain. Chanting and meditating on Aum, brings your brain in the state of a newborn baby, no thoughts, no likes or dislikes, no stress, just being!

Theta is the border between the conscious and the subconscious world, and by learning to use a conscious, waking Theta brain wave we can access and influence the powerful subconscious part of ourselves that is normally inaccessible to our waking minds. While in the Theta state, the mind is capable of deep and profound learning, healing, and growth - it is the brain wave where our minds can connect to the Divine and manifest changes in the material world.

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Aum is composed of three syllables, a, u, m. Without these three sounds, no word can begin, resound or end in any language. these three sounds are universal, they are the seed (bija) of all words.

The letters, a, u, m symbolizes speech (vak), mind (manas) and the breath of life (prana). As leaves are held together by a twig, all speech is held together by aum. Aum is the everlasting spirit, a symbol of serenity, divinity, majestic power, omnipotence and universality.

Aum as a whole stands for the realization that liberates the human spirit from the confines of body, mind, intellect and ego. By meditating upon Aum, the sadhaka remains steady, pure, and faithful. He becomes a great soul (mahatma). He finds the presence of Supreme Spirit within, and earns the peace which is free from fear, dissolution and death.

~ B. K. S Iyengar

"Om is the one eternal syllable of which all that exists is but the development. The past, the present, and the future are all included in this one sound, and all that exists beyond the three forms of time is also implied in it"

~Mandukya Upanishad

"The goal which all the Vedas declare, which all austerities aim at, and which men desire when they lead the life of continence … is Om. This syllable Om is indeed Brahman. Whosoever knows this syllable obtains all that he desires. This is the best support; this is the highest support. Whosoever knows this support is adored in the world of Brahma."
~ Katha Upanisha

Yoga Sutra 1:2

One of my favorite sutra is 1:2

Yoga chitta vritti nirodhah - योग चित्त वृत्ति निरोध 

Yoga is the control (nirodhah, regulation, channeling, mastery, integration,

coordination, stilling, quieting, setting aside) of the modifications (gross and subtle

thought patterns) of the mind field.

Patanjali has summed up the entire philosophy of yoga in the second sutra (aphorism). This converges with the stithapragya (the man of steady wisdom) described by the lord Krishna in Bhagvad Gita in the second chapter.

This is the ultimate goal of yoga, following eight limbs of yoga prepares you for this stage. By calling it goal, I don't mean you reach there and that's it. This goal is also a journey, you reach there and stay there. It's a way of life.

Here's what B. K. S. Iyengar has to say about this sutra:

This vital sutra contains the definition of yoga. Yoga is the cessation of all vibrations in the seat of consciousness.

Restraining the fluctuations of the mind is a process which leads to an end; samadhi. Initially, yoga acts as a means of restraint. When the sadhaka has attained a total state of restraint, yogic discipline is accomplished and the end is reached: the consciousness remains pure. Thus, yoga is both the means and the end.

Wonderful!

Cervical spine in Bhujangasana

Most often students extend the cervical spine in Bhujagasana by lifting the chin, this is not true extension of cervical spine. To understand this, while sitting, flex your neck so you're looking down. Place your fingers on upper and lower cervical spine. Now backbend your neck from the top of your cervical spine only by lifting your chin a few inches. You will ntocie your lower cervical are in flexion while upper is in extension.

To practice Bhujangasana, ensure you lift using your back muscles (can keep your hands off the floor to bring awareness to your back muscles). To practice even extension, make sure the top of the head is facing the opposite wall instead of jutting the chin forward.

Cervical spine in backbends

The cervical curve and the lumbar curve are secondary curves, they develop after birth. The cervical curve develops when the baby begins to hold her head up and the lumbar curve develops when the baby while she is learning to stand. Both these curves are less stable. These curves are called sympathetic curves i.e. when you flex your neck there is a tendency to flex your lumbar spine and when you extend your lumbar spine you will often extend your neck. You can try this either laying on the mat or standing with one hand on your neck and the other on your lower back. Try flexing and extending your lower back and notice the effect on your cervical spine.

It is very important to remember this while practicing forward folds and back bends.

Based on YogaBody by Judith Hanson Lasater

What is yoga?

Generally, people relate yoga with asana (physical postures) but asana are 1/8th part of yoga. Here are couple of verses from Bhagavad Gita on yoga:

6-18 - When the disciplined mind rests in the Self alone, free from desire for objects, then is one said to be established in yoga.

6-19 - As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker - this is the simile used for the disciplined mind of the yogi practicing concentration on the Self.

Desire in itself is not bad, if you possess desire and not let it possess you. The benefit of yogaabhyaasa is that in that state, the mind is like a fortress that cannot be penetrated easily by internal and external desires. A yogi having a balanced attitude towards raga and dvesha slips into meditation very easily and enjoys communion with his own Self. It is difficult to collect the mind together in the face of external and internal desires, but a disciplined yogi is able to do this because he is free from the longing of all objects of desire. In this sense, he is said to be accomplished in yoga and his contemplation has been successful.

Bhujangasana - Cobra

Yesterday for the first time I tried this pose with elbows straight. It felt amazing! I have always practiced the pose with elbows bent. Almost all books, article, teachers I have read or practiced with have taught it with elbows bent. I had never thought of practicing with straight elbows until I read instructions from BKS Iyengar in his book, Light on Yoga. I couldn't believe how light it felt in the lower back!

Some other tips to try:

• Lift one leg at a time and stretch towards the wall behind you before lifting up in the pose. This gets your legs in internal rotation so that the legs are resting on top of the thighs.
• While coming up, lead with your heart and not head. Most students bring the head up before lifting shoulders and back. Instead, keep your head and neck aligned with your spine and let it rise along with your body.

More about alignment of cervical spine in backbends next time.

Namaste!

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