Morning Yoga Practice: Āsanas and Prāṇāyāma
Morning yoga practice integrates āsanas and prāṇāyāma to awaken the body.
Begin with deep inhalation and exhalation, raising the upper body from the floor to stretch the neck and activate abdominal muscles. Shoulder stretches release tension in the shoulder girdle, preparing for later activity. In catuṣ pādāsana, legs stretch while the body warms, using full lung capacity. Kaṭi Cakrāsana follows with wide-legged lateral bending, keeping spine, shoulders, and hands aligned with the breath. Standing relaxation lets circulation flow through legs, arms, and head. Gūṇamānāsana is practiced seated, twisting side to side with both sitting bones grounded. Each twist squeezes the spine, releasing stale blood so fresh blood can enter upon relaxation. Aśvasan Chalana Āsana targets abdominal muscles through controlled leg movements; a lighter variation is for those with menstruation. After lying in Ānandāsana, observe any remaining tension and release it. Breath awareness deepens by following inhalation from navel to throat and exhalation from throat to navel. Leg stretches precede the meditation posture, ensuring comfort with pillows or blankets. Hands rest in chin mudrā, eyes close, and the body becomes still. Three Oms are chanted, directing circulation to the head, then the practice gently concludes.
“So, when we do stretching, it’s like we take a sponge and squeeze it, and all the water comes out. Then, when you relax it, new water can come in.”
“With inhalation, we just follow the flow of our breath from the navel to the throat, and with exhalation, from the throat to the navel.”
Filming location: Umag, Croatia
Up next
Knowledge is the Light
Guru Pūrṇimā is about moving from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge. Without knowledge, one is like an animal. This light is the inner knowledge within every being. Humans possess intellect, but it is shaped by its education; one becomes what one is taught. Therefore, proper education is paramount, which is spiritual and ethical education rooted in Sanātana values. This education comes from the guru. The essence of all scriptures is the same truth of one God, though languages differ. Today, people prioritize learning English for jobs over their mother tongue, leading to a loss of cultural roots. Sanskāras create culture, culture creates humanity, and humanity protects the country. Guru Pūrṇimā is the worship of the divine being who gives knowledge and is a festival to keep culture alive. Sanātana Dharma is a living dharma, seen in eternal relationships like that of guru and disciple. This relationship will last forever, making it the greatest and most living festival.
"Without knowledge, one is like an animal."
"God is one. God has no name, and all scriptures speak of the oneness of God."
Filming location: Jadan, Rajasthan, India
The Purifying Path of Haṭha Yoga: An Introduction to Ṣaṭkarma
Haṭha Yoga's essence is the six purification techniques, or Ṣaṭkarma, for cleansing the body and balancing energy. Our polluted modern environment necessitates these natural cleansings using water, salt, and air. These practices purify the physical system and uniquely influence the vegetative nervous system, which is typically beyond our control. The goal is to balance the Iḍā and Piṅgalā energy channels, allowing the central Suṣumnā to flow. This mastery brings many benefits, fostering willpower and overcoming inertia. Regular purification, especially during seasonal changes, removes metabolic waste that causes illness and stagnation, keeping energy flowing. Specific techniques like Netī cleanse the nasal passages, while Agni Sāra and Naulī stoke the digestive fire. These are potent tools that require proper guidance from an experienced teacher regarding the correct method and timing.
"Haṭha Yoga is not only that we clean and purify our whole system, our whole body, but it also has a great, very great effect on our nervous system, especially the vegetative nervous system."
"When they are balanced, then the third one, the Suṣumnā Nāḍī, will start to flow."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
The spiritual lineage
The spiritual lineage connects devotees to an ancient source of grace. A disciple met the master as a baby and received lifelong blessings, countering predictions of a short life and lack of education or wealth. The lineage extends back seven generations through the family. The source of the teachings is the immortal master Alakpuriji, who dwells in the Himalayas. Such perfected beings exist in subtle, causal bodies beyond the material world, serving as protectors. They can be perceived by pure hearts, as seen in lights over glaciers. The path requires sacrifice of attachment to enter the divine kingdom, as demonstrated by Yudhiṣṭhira's loyalty. The goal is liberation through this spotless, indescribable grace.
"Tell me when you’re ready to leave this earth to come, I’ll call you."
"Enter the kingdom of the Lord through the gate of sacrifice."
Filming location: Atlanta, Goergia, USA
Mana Saba Khoyo Re
The mind is lost in bad company.
The mind loses everything through negative association, abandoning the Guru's shelter and creating obstacles in devotion. Worldly life is a dream-like illusion that distracts and creates forgetfulness. Desire is an unquenchable thirst, leading one endlessly like a mirage. True refuge is found in the Satguru and authentic satsang, which are rare. Do not be confused by sensory temptations or false dreams of guidance. Wake from spiritual sleep. Through satsang, the soul awakens and gains liberation. Do not turn away from the Guru's word, for that path leads to the loss of meditation, devotion, and all good deeds.
"Je saṁsāra śvapnikī māyā dek bhul man mohe. This saṁsāra is an illusion of the dream."
"Vise ras mṛg tṛṣṇā pānī. In this desire of thirst, your thirst will never be quenched."
Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic
