Class on Bhakti

Setting the theme/tone: Starting in prone Savasana with Anjali Mudra in front of the crown of the head.  “The theme for tonight’s class is Bhakti and Bhakti is one of the four major systems of yoga.  There is Jnana Yoga, or the yoga of knowledge, Karma Yoga, or the yoga of action or service, Raja Yoga, the yoga of meditation (which is where you will find the asana/pranayama practice) and then Bhakti Yoga and Bhakti is the yoga of love or devotion.  This is not the lustful or sexual type that we think of when we think of some of the ways that Tantra Yoga has historically gone.  This kind of yoga encompasses an honest search inwards for connection to that one spirit that lies within all of us and it begins with, is propelled by and ends with love.  

Reading: And what is love?  "To love is to not ask anything in return, not even to feel that you are giving something.  This is the only way to freedom" - J. Krishnamurti.”

Mudra: Anjali (adoration)

Pranayama: Wide open arms with Khapalabatti breath

Chant: Krishna & Rama both were incarnations of Vishnu.  These names hold a lot of power in them for the simple fact that people have been using them as a tool to connect to the spiritual aspect of ourselves for thousands of years.  Right?  As the pathways continues to get used, it becomes more clear and a more defined.  Nature really seeks to go with the flow, it is spontaneous and yet still has the goal of survival.  That is our karma, its the easiest way for us to get to God, and we are all so different and yet connected to other people’s karma.  And because we all come in from such different walks of life lets connect to each other through sound.  We are going to use the Krishna Chant.

“Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama

Rama Rama, Hare Hare.”

Mantra: “I create my own reality, tonight i choose to end my own suffering”

Asana: “Move with love and devotion for your life, for your blessings for your miracle body that can do these poses and take these deep breaths for you.”

Prone Savasana: bend knees and bring toes forward to stretch quads

Floor bow with knees down & up variations

Child’s Pose

Plow, Shoulder Stand, roll forward to balancing on your ass with legs in the air pose.

Roll back to dolphin & practice bringing chin forward (in line with thumbs) & back, then forearm plank, lift hips and swoop through to Chatarunga, Updog then down dog.

Warm up upper body with 5 vinyasas & then lift then have them lift one heel, bend that same knee and twist to the opposite side of the mat (getting a stretch in the whole side of the body side of the body with the straight leg.

5 x Sun A

5 x Sun B with a step back from Arda Uttanasana & step forward with half lift in between sides.

1 - High to low lunge with a backbend (5 breaths each)

2 - Runner’s Lunge to Extended Side Angle

3 - Bound Warrior to Bound Triangle or Birds of Paradise

4- Reverse Warrior to Half Moon (Arda Chandrasana) with leg out to the side & or Chaprasana

5- Star to Prasaritta C with option for funky tripod head stand

3 xs though on their own

Backbends - wheel x5 

Forearm balance/scorpion

Warm down: plow, shoulder stand, twists and Matsyendrasana

Mantra: “I create my own reality, tonight I choose to end my own suffering.”

Say this with devotion and faith

Meditation: “ We do create our own reality and just like anything in the known universe, the law of attraction lies.  By simply bringing it into the present moment  you give your thoughts, feelings, actions and intentions power.  Tonight we had the intention of truly loving ourselves.  Did we?  It doesn’t matter, the point is that your efforts went their, they aimed at it & intended to shoot.  

Song: “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele