Zephyr Yoga Podcast Zephyr Wildman

The fifth limb of Patanjali’s eightfold path of yoga, is Pratyahara. Pratyahara is an important bridge between the external focus of the previous limbs of yoga, such as asana (postures) and pranayama(breath exercises) to the more advanced practices of dharana(concentration) and dhyana (meditation). Pratyahara literally means withdrawing from the senses, to gain control over the senses to bring about calmness, peace and stillness. 
Prati meaning “against” or “withdraw”, and ahara meaning “food” or referring to anything we take in from the outside. Pratyahara also helps to provide an understanding of how much the mind is influenced by sensory input, imprisoned by the senses. Dictating our thoughts and feelings in ‘feeding’ it leading it to be trapped in the Kleshas, mental/emotional afflictions that continue the wheel of suffering. Our practice is to stop feeding the mind the things that keep it ignorance of it’s true nature, stuck in ignorance, attachment, aversion, egotism and fear. Encouraging the mind in a kind way to turn inwards and use the senses to be of service to the pursuit of practice, gaining mastery over external influences and allowing the practitioner to connect with their inner world, thereby creating optimal conditions for self-realisation. 
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We are working our way through the 8 limbs of Yoga. These are suggested steps to practice Yoga to attain the state of Yoga, according to Patanjali who wrote the Yoga Sutras. The first limb is the Yamas, 5 ethical guidelines to have more intimate relationships with the world around you and others. The second limb is the Niyamas, 5 observances to have more of an intimate relationship to yourself. The third limb is Asana, posture. As stated in our last session to practice Asana you just need to create Sthira and Sukham, steadiness and comfort in your posture so you can focus the mind on something specific becoming more effortless in your practice. This session we are focusing on the fourth limb, Pranayama, breathing techniques or exercises.
Why do we want to do want to focus on Pranayama? Well, we all want to feel more vital, energised, productive, healthy and creative. These are all fuelled by Prana, your life force or vital energy that animates, supports our homeostasis and it’s said to sustain our life and longevity.
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Asana is the third limb to the eight limb path of Yoga according to the Yoga Sutras. Asana is associated with ascetic austerities that are practiced to result in the state of mind being stilled and awakened. In Yoga Sutra 2.46 it states, to practice Asana you just need two things, Sthira – Steadiness and Sukham – Comfort. Patanjali’s purpose of asana was to be steady and comfortable in the posture to meditate. Any posture. 
The next suggestion was from Yoga Sutra 2.47 which states how to master Asana. Be in a posture where there is structural integrity and a sense of ease. Then create effort by meditating on something specific, becoming more effortless. Pointing the practitioner to train the mind to rest it’s awareness on something, leading it to stillness. Stillness is the goal of the activity of practicing Yoga-Asana, stated in Yoga Sutra 1.2 Citta Vritti Nirodha, stilling the fluctuations of the mind to then enter the state of Yoga. Hatha Yogis figured out that if you created activity on the levels of the body, energy and mind, it increases one’s access to stillness, quietude and being motionless. So create effort to become effortless!
To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. 
To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here.

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To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. 
To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5th Niyama is Isvara Pranidhana complete surrender to the God head of your understanding. To have complete faith in the guiding and protective power of absolute reality behind all life and manifestation. Whatever is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. Yoga is not a religion, however a ‘Spiritual’ practice.
The teachings suggests we surrender our fruits of our actions, give all of our self over to this Grace that we entrust in and we stay open to what life has to offer. Starting thinking about what you are trying to control, be powerful over? Person, place or thing? Kids, finances, relationships, work outcomes…Or better yet, what would you like to let go of? Fear, anger, envy, resentments…
Vyasa one of the commenters of the Yoga Sutras, stated that a mind that is disturbed, distracted and stupefied is not fit for reaching Samadhi. It is only reachable by Yogis who have cultivated a one-pointed and complete still mind, Nirodha. In our focused, diligent practice (Abhyasa) we refine our awareness (Viveka) to observe what arises, discerning our choices in practice. Vairagya is a practice of letting go of sensory observation, training the mind to detach from what arises, distracts or motivates the activity of the mind that prevents it from stillness. This becomes a repetition of mind to practice the art of surrendering that which doesn’t serve the practitioner in their pursuit of attaining the state of Yoga.
To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. 
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This practice we will focus on the 4th Niyama, Svadhyaya: Self-study, self- inquiry, it is to observe the self, understand it and self-reflect on it. It is the study by and of oneself, along side of the study of spiritual scripture and teachings. Reading, listening and reciting mantras. Through repetition we learn, deepening the knowledge and opening to true wisdom.
Sva means own or self. Dhyaya means lesson, practice, teaching. The word literally means ‘placing it within your own’ or ‘own- ing’ the lesson, the teaching own the lesson as you focus on what is arising right here and now.
In practice we take it all in, whatever arises in our field of experience. Welcoming it all as teachers, make the understanding and experience your own, place yourself within it. This is where your light of intelligence (Prajna), discernment (Vikeka) and your intuitive wisdom (Buddhi) gathered insight into what is arising in practice in the form of thought, emotions and sensations.
To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. 
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