The Yogic body chakras, nadis, BANDHAS, vayus & kundalini
ONLINE For thousands of years, meditators have envisioned a second non-physical body in addition to the physical one. Sometimes this 'yogic body' served as a way to explain the flow of energy, while other times it was an intermediate step between the earthly realm and the divine.
The Yogic Bodyworkshop series explores the roots of many of these concepts: chakras, nadis, bandhas, vayus and kundalini. We will discuss where the ideas come from, what they were originally used for, and what they have come to mean in modern usage.
Each two-hour session will also include a guided physical practice, both for the purpose of health and, when appropriate, to incorporate the ideas of the yogic body.
Saturdays in September 10am–12pm CDT
***Eligible for 8 hours of CE for OHYA and YA.***
SESSION 1 :: Saturday, September 4 Introduction to the Yogic Body How is the yogic body different from the subtle body? Is the yogic body real? How is it related to the organs, glands and nervous system? What was different between tantric, hathayogic and modern conceptions of the yogic body?
SESSION 2 :: Saturday, September 11 Chakras What is a chakra? Where are they located, and how many of them are there? This week we will explore the earliest known system of chakras and their purpose. We will see several various organizations of chakra conception, as well as their transformation in the pre-modern period. Finally, we will explore how the chakra system arrived at its common modern explanation, a system of seven arranged along the spine and associated with the colors of the rainbow. SESSION 3 :: Saturday, September 18 Nadis, Vayus, Prana & Bandhas In pre-modern conceptions of the body and spirit, energy, food, wind and consciousness flowed through us via various pathways. We could cleanse, purify and control these aspects to improve health and strength, or to increase our spiritual progress. SESSION 4 :: Saturday, September 25 Kundalini Many of the other aspects of the yogic body are subordinate to one great force, kundalini, the power of consciousness. The awakening and raising of kundalini is one of the central goals of hathayoga. This week we will learn all about kundalini, what it is, where it comes from, and different methods of affecting it.