Asana Kitchen Podcast David Garrigues

In this podcast, David defines the grand concept of Kundalini and how this main concept is associated with more familiar terms such as Prana, Shakti, Nadis, Shushumna, Mudra, Prana and Apana Vayu, as well as Mula, Uddiyana, and Jalandhara Bandhas.

He outlines the classic tantric imagery that is ubiquitous to many of the sacred texts and discusses the relevance of this important schemata to the practice of asana, vinyasa, and pranayama.

David reads from such sacred Hatha Yoga texts as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Geranda Samhita, and Prasna Upanishad to give examples how the kundalini language and schemata are inherently embedded in these texts.

He also gives examples of how the 7 asana principles are a secret, disguised road map to kundalini awakening. The asana principles: 1) Samasthiti is every pose, 2)crouch and spring to transition 3) ground legs and arms 4) awaken spine 5) tap breath 6 ) seal in energy 7) play with opposites

In this month's podcast David answers four questions from students:
1) How do I balance Yoga and Family obligations?
2) How did David start teaching and what were some struggles in the beginning?
3) Should Ashtanga evolve?
4) Why are there some postures and vinyasas I struggle to do without your (DG's) instruction?

Using Yoga Sutras 3:48 and 3:49, David breaks down the indriyas and discusses how to explore them on the mat.

• Analysis of the great yogi Krishnamacharya’s statement that not all asanas are meant to be done by everyone—each individual will have their own custom list of asanas based on such factors as: age, experience, aptitude, interest, work or family responsibilities.
• Probing the question of how important it is in Ashtanga to keep doing more postures and more difficult series.
• Thoughts about the teachings in the Yoga Vashista that say, “A yogi should never make the least effort to get what doesn’t come to him/her/they without effort.”
• Exploration of the word wisdom. What does the Bhagadvad Gita mean when it says: “Wisdom is the goal of every action.”
• The importance of centering one’s practice around the foundational poses
• Interpretation of a passage from the Isha Upanishad on finding balance between devoting oneself to the material and spiritual aspects of one’s life.
• Recitation of a Kabir poem that that speaks to turning one’s attention to the mystery of it all.

The podcast is meant to let people know that it's natural and essential to show up to one’s mat in any number of different physical and mental states. Dealing with one’s darkness is as much part of the process as reaching for the light. And so there’s no need to feel like a bad yogi when you find that you are not happy or not detached--all the of the time.

David questions the heavily marketed idea that yoga is primarily about wellness or feeling good or happy all of the time. There’s an idea that a good yogi detaches from all afflictions and masterfully transcends or stops negative impulses or reactive emotions.

The models that populate yoga magazines and social media outlets are almost always shown to be strong, flexible, serene, happy, in control and at peace. David points out how these depictions are misleading and at odds with what actually happens when one takes up a steady daily practice. In fact, practice partly serves to help one raise up the darkness within, to face one’s shadow, and come into meaningful contact with one’s suffering.

David discusses James Hillman’s idea that human growth and wisdom is only partly about overcoming darkness or reaching for the light or attaining to the high-pinnacled peak of spiritual ascendancy. Soul, in contrast to spirit, is the other equally important part of the equation for self discovery, self mastery, and self knowledge. Questing for soul involves traveling downward into the blue, dark, shadowy valleys of the psyche. David speaks about Hillman's insistence that the soul actually gains insight and wisdom through encountering afflictions (desires, attachments, fears, anger, sadness, grief, abandonment, loneliness, jealousy, and other strong emotions) rather than merely attempting to disengage, cut, repress or otherwise get rid of these challenging states.

David reads several poems from such Bhakti poets as: Mirabai, Tulsidas, Hafiz, and Kabir to illustrate how these yogis accepted, worked with, and transformed their darkness into creative works instead of rejecting or shunning such aspects of themselves. Enjoy!

Aparigraha by David Garrigues