Day 30. Krishnamacharya General Practice #21

 

Points of concentration: 16 vital points. (No concentration points in todays practice)

sirsa - the fontanel

murdhna - middle of forehead

bhrumadhya - between eyebrows

nasagra - extremity of the nose

talu mula - back of the palate

lalata - root of the uvula

kantha - throat

kantha kupa - back of the throat

hrdaya - middle of the heart

nabhi - navel

sroni - centre of the pelvis

mula - perineum

jangha- point at top of thighs

janu - point at middle of knees 

gulpha - point at middle of ankles 

pada angusta - point of the big toes.

Also of note...

Murdhna: the point located in front of the nose

Divya Chakshush: Point behind the head (occipital)

Aditya (the sun) is the disk of the sun, black and shiny,

The star: lying on his back to look as far as possible on the sky 

Taraka: the horizon point,

Kumbhaka

A.K. = Antah Kumbhaka (holding of breath after inhalation ) 

B.K = Bhaya Kumbhaka (holding of breath after exhalation )

*

NOTES

*

Svana Asana

#8

A big thank you to my friend Andrea Panzer for sending me this video of Svana Asana.

Notice that her toes remain on the mat unlike in my photo on the sheet.

Andrea was pointing out yesterday that Svana Asana should perhaps be represented by three photos (but perhaps even four) rather than two, as we come to the mat each time.

Lie on the stomach, forehead on the mat.

1. Inhalation to Urdhva Mukha Svana Asana.

2. Exhalation to Ardho Mukha Svana Asana.

3. Inhalation back to Urdhva Mukha Svana Asana.

4. Exhalation back to starting position,legs, abdomen, chest and forehead on the mat.

My friend Andrea Panzer, who took seminars with T. K. Sribhashyam over an eight year period, has just started her own blog on Sribhashyam's teaching. Andrea is outlining guidelines to practice that I will quote on my own guidelines page at the top of the blog.

https://www.ashtanga-yoga-inspiration.com/home/blog/

*

Also note the other vinyasas

Vira Bhadra Asana / Garuda Asana

#2/#3

Garuda Asana follows on from Vira Bhadra Asana in this session

I'm assuming you would bring the hands down from Vira Bhadra Asana into the fourth photo below.

4th photo below

On the exhalation the arms are lowered, palms upward elbows brought back

1 ujjayi breath

5th photo

Palms brought together, thumbs against the sternum

1 ujjayi breath

6th photo

On the inhalation, raise the arms back overhead to Vira Bhadra Asana

7th photo

straighten the leg

8th photo

unlink the hands, lower the arms and step forward, to bring the right foot beside the left.

Repeat on the other side.

Garuda Asana

Parvata Asana

#9

We can choose to practice these hand/arm movement is Parvata Asana or vajra Asana

Sribhashyam also has the same hand/arm movements in Danda Asana.

The hands come back to the floor, fingers pointing forward between each vinyasa hand/arm variation.

Day 29. Krishnamacharya General Practice #20

 

Points of concentration: 16 vital points. (No concentration points in todays practice)

sirsa - the fontanel

murdhna - middle of forehead

bhrumadhya - between eyebrows

nasagra - extremity of the nose

talu mula - back of the palate

lalata - root of the uvula

kantha - throat

kantha kupa - back of the throat

hrdaya - middle of the heart

nabhi - navel

sroni - centre of the pelvis

mula - perineum

jangha- point at top of thighs

janu - point at middle of knees 

gulpha - point at middle of ankles 

pada angusta - point of the big toes.

Also of note...

Murdhna: the point located in front of the nose

Divya Chakshush: Point behind the head (occipital)

Aditya (the sun) is the disk of the sun, black and shiny,

The star: lying on his back to look as far as possible on the sky 

Taraka: the horizon point,

Kumbhaka

A.K. = Antah Kumbhaka (holding of breath after inhalation ) 

B.K = Bhaya Kumbhaka (holding of breath after exhalation )

*

NOTES

#13, #14

*

Svana Asana

A big thank you to my friend Andrea Panzer for sending me this video of Svana Asana.

Notice that her toes remain on the mat unlike in my photo on the sheet.

My friend Andrea Panzer, who took seminars with T. K. Sribhashyam over an eight year period, has just started her own blog on Sribhashyam's teaching. Andrea is outlining guidelines to practice that I will quote on my own guidelines page at the top of the blog.

https://www.ashtanga-yoga-inspiration.com/home/blog/

Day 28. Krishnamacharya Full Moon Practice Example #3

Note

Do not lie on the back at the end of New and Full moon sessions. 

The Full moon in Japan was at 12:32 yesterday, 

I practiced the mudra session in the morning 

(before the actual full moon)

and will be practicing theFull Moon session 

this morning.

Points of concentration: 16 vital points. (No concentration points in todays practice)

sirsa - the fontanel

murdhna - middle of forehead

bhrumadhya - between eyebrows

nasagra - extremity of the nose

talu mula - back of the palate

lalata - root of the uvula

kantha - throat

kantha kupa - back of the throat

hrdaya - middle of the heart

nabhi - navel

sroni - centre of the pelvis

mula - perineum

jangha- point at top of thighs

janu - point at middle of knees 

gulpha - point at middle of ankles 

pada angusta - point of the big toes.

Also of note...

Murdhna: the point located in front of the nose

Divya Chakshush: Point behind the head (occipital)

Aditya (the sun) is the disk of the sun, black and shiny,

The star: lying on his back to look as far as possible on the sky 

Taraka: the horizon point,

Kumbhaka

A.K. = Antah Kumbhaka (holding of breath after inhalation ) 

B.K = Bhaya Kumbhaka (holding of breath after exhalation )

*

Vedic Concept of Prayer by T.K. Sribhashyam

https://www.harmonyyoga.co.uk/2016/08/28/vedic-concept-of-prayer-by-t-k-sribhashyam/

Day 27 Krishnamacharya Mudra/Life Saving Session #4

 

Points of concentration: 16 vital points. (No concentration points in todays practice)

sirsa - the fontanel

murdhna - middle of forehead

bhrumadhya - between eyebrows

nasagra - extremity of the nose

talu mula - back of the palate

lalata - root of the uvula

kantha - throat

kantha kupa - back of the throat

hrdaya - middle of the heart

nabhi - navel

sroni - centre of the pelvis

mula - perineum

jangha- point at top of thighs

janu - point at middle of knees 

gulpha - point at middle of ankles 

pada angusta - point of the big toes.

Also of note...

Murdhna: the point located in front of the nose

Divya Chakshush: Point behind the head (occipital)

Aditya (the sun) is the disk of the sun, black and shiny,

The star: lying on his back to look as far as possible on the sky 

Taraka: the horizon point,

Kumbhaka

A.K. = Antah Kumbhaka (holding of breath after inhalation ) 

B.K = Bhaya Kumbhaka (holding of breath after exhalation )

*

NOTES

#3

......or Supta Parvata Asana 6 breaths B.K. 5s

#6

or Baddha kona Asana - 12 breaths, 

Inh. kantha, Exh. nabhi

*

#10

KECARI MUDRA

Padma Asana or Anata Asana

Draw in Chin, straighten entire spinal column.

Gyan Mudra (tips of thumb and forefinger 

touching) on knees. Stick out tongue, turn it 

backwards and bring tip towards glottis, close 

mouth. Direct gaze to lalata or bhrumadhya.

*

Tomorrow is a Full Moon here in Japan

There will be Full Moon session rather than the scheduled pranayama session.

However, The New Moon and Full moon sessions in Sribhashyam's book are themselves pranayama sessions.

Day 26. Krishnamacharya General Practice #19

 

Points of concentration: 16 vital points. (No concentration points in todays practice)

sirsa - the fontanel

murdhna - middle of forehead

bhrumadhya - between eyebrows

nasagra - extremity of the nose

talu mula - back of the palate

lalata - root of the uvula

kantha - throat

kantha kupa - back of the throat

hrdaya - middle of the heart

nabhi - navel

sroni - centre of the pelvis

mula - perineum

jangha- point at top of thighs

janu - point at middle of knees 

gulpha - point at middle of ankles pada angusta - point of the big toes.

Also of note...

Murdhna: the point located in front of the nose

Divya Chakshush: Point behind the head (occipital)

Aditya (the sun) is the disk of the sun, black and shiny,

The star: lying on his back to look as far as possible on the sky Taraka: the horizon point,

Kumbhaka

A.K. = Antah Kumbhaka (holding of breath after inhalation ) 

B.K = Bhaya Kumbhaka (holding of breath after exhalation )

*

Day 25. Krishnamacharya General Practice #18

 

Points of concentration: 16 vital points. (No concentration points in todays practice)

sirsa - the fontanel

murdhna - middle of forehead

bhrumadhya - between eyebrows

nasagra - extremity of the nose

talu mula - back of the palate

lalata - root of the uvula

kantha - throat

kantha kupa - back of the throat

hrdaya - middle of the heart

nabhi - navel

sroni - centre of the pelvis

mula - perineum

jangha- point at top of thighs

janu - point at middle of knees 

gulpha - point at middle of ankles pada angusta - point of the big toes.

Also of note...

Murdhna: the point located in front of the nose

Divya Chakshush: Point behind the head (occipital)

Aditya (the sun) is the disk of the sun, black and shiny,

The star: lying on his back to look as far as possible on the sky Taraka: the horizon point,

Kumbhaka

A.K. = Antah Kumbhaka (holding of breath after inhalation ) 

B.K = Bhaya Kumbhaka (holding of breath after exhalation )

*

NOTES

Svana Asana

A big thank you to my friend Andrea Panzer for sending me this video of Svana Asana.

Notice that her toes remain on the mat unlike in my photo on the sheet.

My friend Andrea Panzer, who took seminars with T. K. Sribhashyam over an eight year period, has just started her own blog on Sribhashyam's teaching. Andrea is outlining guidelines to practice that I will quote on my own guidelines page at the top of the blog.

https://www.ashtanga-yoga-inspiration.com/home/blog/

*

 Parigha Asana ( Parigha= barrier (fence)).

This asana was new to me.

We begin it from kneeling, stretch the left leg out to the left in line with the right knee.

Hands interlock, raise them on the inhalation, palms to the sky as in Vinyasa Krama tadasana

 hand arm variations. 

Bend the trunk to the side on the exhalation then back to vertical on the inhalation.

Three times both sides.

Day 24. Krishnamacharya General Practice #17

Points of concentration: 16 vital points. (No concentration points in todays practice)

sirsa - the fontanel

murdhna - middle of forehead

bhrumadhya - between eyebrows

nasagra - extremity of the nose

talu mula - back of the palate

lalata - root of the uvula

kantha - throat

kantha kupa - back of the throat

hrdaya - middle of the heart

nabhi - navel

sroni - centre of the pelvis

mula - perineum

jangha- point at top of thighs

janu - point at middle of knees 

gulpha - point at middle of ankles pada angusta - point of the big toes.

Also of note...

Murdhna: the point located in front of the nose

Divya Chakshush: Point behind the head (occipital)

Aditya (the sun) is the disk of the sun, black and shiny,

The star: lying on his back to look as far as possible on the sky Taraka: the horizon point,

Kumbhaka

A.K. = Antah Kumbhaka (holding of breath after inhalation ) 

B.K = Bhaya Kumbhaka (holding of breath after exhalation )

*

NOTES

In the Upavista Kona Asana (complete) #9/10

Begin in dandasana, spread the legs. On the breath....,  raise the arms, lower to take the toes, raise the arms and turn to the left, lower to take the toes, raise the arms turn to the right, lower to take the toes.

Come back to centre and repeat each of the bending actions three times. 

Svana Asana

A big thank you to my friend Andrea Panzer for sending me this video of Svana Asana.

Notice that her toes remain on the mat unlike in my photo on the sheet.

My friend Andrea Panzer, who took seminars with T. K. Sribhashyam over an eight year period, has just started her own blog on Sribhashyam's teaching. Andrea is outlining guidelines to practice that I will quote on my own guidelines page at the top of the blog.

https://www.ashtanga-yoga-inspiration.com/home/blog/

 

Day 23. Krishnamacharya General Practice #16

 

Points of concentration: 16 vital points.

sirsa - the fontanel

murdhna - middle of forehead

bhrumadhya - between eyebrows

nasagra - extremity of the nose

talu mula - back of the palate

lalata - root of the uvula

kantha - throat

kantha kupa - back of the throat

hrdaya - middle of the heart

nabhi - navel

sroni - centre of the pelvis

mula - perineum

jangha- point at top of thighs

janu - point at middle of knees g

ulpha - point at middle of ankles pada angusta - point of the big toes.

Also of note...

Murdhna: the point located in front of the nose

Divya Chakshush: Point behind the head (occipital)

Aditya (the sun) is the disk of the sun, black and shiny,

The star: lying on his back to look as far as possible on the sky Taraka: the horizon point,

Kumbhaka

A.K. = Antah Kumbhaka (holding of breath after inhalation ) 

B.K = Bhaya Kumbhaka (holding of breath after exhalation )

*

Note

We saw the Viparita Karani as an alternative to Sirsa Asana in general practice session 14 and 15

#6

 ...or Viparita karani - 6 breaths B.K.3s

NOTE

I've added some articles to the top of the blog as stand alone permanent Pages to assist in practice.

A Guidelines for practice page that I'll be tidying up over the Golden Week holiday next week

A review of one of Sribhashyam's Seminar's from my friend Chiara.

Sribhashyam's Pranayama article

The Pearl - an earlier seminar by Sribhashyam

Also, Krishnamacharya's Yogasanagalu from the translation project with Satya Murthy on my old blog (The photos of Krishnamacharya in Emergence of Yoga are some of the same photos that accompanied later editions of Yogasanagalu.).

And finally Questions to Krishnamacharya from his students.

*

There is a lot of bhakti (surrender to god) in Sribhashyam's system

The last article contains perhaps my favourite quote from Krishnamacharya...

Q.46. What does the bhakti mean to a person 

who has no belief in Isvara?

Krishnamacharya: "Love is bhakti for them."

from Questions to Krishnamacharya from his students in 

Yogacarya Krishnamacharya - The Purnacarya. 

Edited by Mala Srivatsan.

Day 22. Krishnamacharya General Practice #15

 

Points of concentration: 16 vital points.

sirsa - the fontanel

murdhna - middle of forehead

bhrumadhya - between eyebrows

nasagra - extremity of the nose

talu mula - back of the palate

lalata - root of the uvula

kantha - throat

kantha kupa - back of the throat

hrdaya - middle of the heart

nabhi - navel

sroni - centre of the pelvis

mula - perineum

jangha- point at top of thighs

janu - point at middle of knees g

ulpha - point at middle of ankles pada angusta - point of the big toes.

Also of note...

Murdhna: the point located in front of the nose

Divya Chakshush: Point behind the head (occipital)

Aditya (the sun) is the disk of the sun, black and shiny,

The star: lying on his back to look as far as possible on the sky Taraka: the horizon point,

Kumbhaka

A.K. = Antah Kumbhaka (holding of breath after inhalation ) 

B.K = Bhaya Kumbhaka (holding of breath after exhalation )

Note

We saw the Viparita Karani as an alternative to Sirsa Asana in general practice session 14

#7

 ...orViparita karani - 8 breaths B.K.3s

Sribhashyam offers several alternatives to Sirsa Asana in different sessions, I plan to write more on this on a future post.

For Sarvangasana too, we might choose to practice lying flat on the floor with our legs up against a wall. Also, in Ramaswami's Vinyasa Krama presentation we find supine equivalents or possible alternatives to all the Sarvangasana variations. #8 - #11 in the above practice sheet might be practiced lying on the back and raising up the legs or bringing the knee(s) to the chest.

*

#14

This posture may not be so clear from the photo on the practice sheet.

Purvatana Asana in Upavista Kona - 3 times
Hard to see in the practice sheet photo perhaps

Day 21 Krishnamacharya Pranayama Session #3

 

Points of concentration: 16 vital points.

sirsa - the fontanel

murdhna - middle of forehead

bhrumadhya - between eyebrows

nasagra - extremity of the nose

talu mula - back of the palate

lalata - root of the uvula

kantha - throat

kantha kupa - back of the throat

hrdaya - middle of the heart

nabhi - navel

sroni - centre of the pelvis

mula - perineum

jangha- point at top of thighs

janu - point at middle of knees g

ulpha - point at middle of ankles pada angusta - point of the big toes.

Also of note...

Murdhna: the point located in front of the nose

Divya Chakshush: Point behind the head (occipital)

Aditya (the sun) is the disk of the sun, black and shiny,

The star: lying on his back to look as far as possible on the sky Taraka: the horizon point,

Kumbhaka

A.K. = Antah Kumbhaka (holding of breath after inhalation ) 

B.K = Bhaya Kumbhaka (holding of breath after exhalation )

*

See Sribhashyam's article on Pranayama

P R A N A Y A M A - An Absolute necessity in YOGA

Also, I've just added a page to the blog containing the the Yogasanagalu translation project from my old blog, the translation by Satya Murthy of Krishnamacharya's 1941 Mysore text, Yogasanagalu. It has some interesting sections on pranayama.

Day 20 Krishnamacharya Mudra/Life Saving Session #3

 

Points of concentration: 16 vital points.

sirsa - the fontanel

murdhna - middle of forehead

bhrumadhya - between eyebrows

nasagra - extremity of the nose

talu mula - back of the palate

lalata - root of the uvula

kantha - throat

kantha kupa - back of the throat

hrdaya - middle of the heart

nabhi - navel

sroni - centre of the pelvis

mula - perineum

jangha- point at top of thighs

janu - point at middle of knees g

ulpha - point at middle of ankles pada angusta - point of the big toes.

Also of note...

Murdhna: the point located in front of the nose

Divya Chakshush: Point behind the head (occipital)

Aditya (the sun) is the disk of the sun, black and shiny,

The star: lying on his back to look as far as possible on the sky Taraka: the horizon point,

Kumbhaka

A.K. = Antah Kumbhaka (holding of breath after inhalation ) 

B.K = Bhaya Kumbhaka (holding of breath after exhalation )

NOTES

To point or flex the feet in  head and shoulder stand?

When I was diagnosed with glaucoma a year or two back I stopped doing inversions, stopped having my head below my heart altogether in fact, no downward dogs, not even a full fold in Paschimatana Asana. Once the glaucoma was under control with eye drops and given that my eye pressure was being regularly tested I started to reintroduce these aspects of practice. So far so good. I do two things in my head and shoulder stands to try to counteract the increase in eye pressure that is supposed to result from them, I have no idea if these techniques make the slightest bit of difference. One is to point my toes and the other is to press my tongue to the roof of my mouth. I can’t remember where I heard these techniques might help, I’m not sure if there is any science behind it but so far I’ve been able to reintroduce these inversions without my eye doctor frowning at me.

I think I heard Shribhashyam prefers us to flex the feet or perhaps relax them rather than point them. Pointing might I guess be a distraction from the concentration point although I haven’t found it a problem. 

I checked Krishnamacharya’s own photos and if not strongly pointed they aren’t flexed either.

Shribhashyam offers alternatives to these inversions, should my eye pressure increases I could take advantage of these. Also, there seem to be few full forward folds showing up, perhaps we might consider this a glaucoma friendly system.

.

Mudra session today, the Pranayama session tomorrow then back to general practice sessions on Thursday. I’m looking forward to practicing this session today, after another cup of tea, a beautifully sparse practice.

*

Practice sheets based on the sessions in T. K. Sribhashyam's wonderful 'Emergence of Yoga'.

 May be available on Amazon but check the language.

 https://www.yogakshemam.net/product-page/emergence-du-yoga

Also available direct from T. K. Sribhashyam's school.

I heard the website says it doesn't ship to the US but if you contact them direct it might be able to be arranged for a little extra shipping cost.

Day 19. Krishnamacharya General Practice #14

 

Note

#6

 ...orViparita karani - 8 breaths B.K.3s

#13

Purvatana Asana in Upavista Kona - 3 times
Hard to see in the practice sheet photo perhaps

*

Points of concentration: 16 vital points.

sirsa - the fontanel

murdhna - middle of forehead

bhrumadhya - between eyebrows

nasagra - extremity of the nose

talu mula - back of the palate

lalata - root of the uvula

kantha - throat

kantha kupa - back of the throat

hrdaya - middle of the heart

nabhi - navel

sroni - centre of the pelvis

mula - perineum

jangha- point at top of thighs

janu - point at middle of knees g

ulpha - point at middle of ankles pada angusta - point of the big toes.

Also of note...

Murdhna: the point located in front of the nose

Divya Chakshush: Point behind the head (occipital)

Aditya (the sun) is the disk of the sun, black and shiny,

The star: lying on his back to look as far as possible on the sky Taraka: the horizon point,

Kumbhaka

A.K. = Antah Kumbhaka (holding of breath after inhalation ) 

B.K = Bhaya Kumbhaka (holding of breath after exhalation )

NOTE

Mudra Session tomorrow Day 20

Pranayama Session Day 21

Day 18. Krishnamacharya General Practice #13

 

Note

#8 Sirsa Asana or Taraka Mudra, 12 breaths, B.K. 5s kantha

Points of concentration: 16 vital points.

sirsa - the fontanel

murdhna - middle of forehead

bhrumadhya - between eyebrows

nasagra - extremity of the nose

talu mula - back of the palate

lalata - root of the uvula

kantha - throat

kantha kupa - back of the throat

hrdaya - middle of the heart

nabhi - navel

sroni - centre of the pelvis

mula - perineum

jangha- point at top of thighs

janu - point at middle of knees g

ulpha - point at middle of ankles pada angusta - point of the big toes.

Also of note...

Murdhna: the point located in front of the nose

Divya Chakshush: Point behind the head (occipital)

Aditya (the sun) is the disk of the sun, black and shiny,

The star: lying on his back to look as far as possible on the sky Taraka: the horizon point,

Kumbhaka

A.K. = Antah Kumbhaka (holding of breath after inhalation ) 

B.K = Bhaya Kumbhaka (holding of breath after exhalation )

*

NOTE

Andrea at https://www.ashtanga-yoga-inspiration.com/home/blog/ mentioned that when Shribhashyam mentions “sitting”, whether with a concentration point for a one or two minutes or more or for pranayama, then we have a choice of four seated postures, five if we include Badha Kona Asana. Anata Asana, Danda Asana, Padma Asana, Vajra Asana ( Buddha’s seat) and Badha Kona Asana. Yesterday we had Sitali in Vajra Asana at the start of the practice, this morning it’s Badha Kona Asana.

As a general rule I’m choosing the Anata Asana photo when sitting is mentioned, but we can choose any of these if no posture is indicated.

I’m surprised Siddha Asana isn’t included, it’s my favorite go to posture for sitting but it’s not in the book.

Counting pranayama in Siddha Asana

I’m assuming Shribhashyam taught other postures, he seems to have chosen postures for the book that he thought most people could do.