Anatomy of the Vayus | Immersion in Santa Fe
August 3 - August 7
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Opening the Inner Currents of Prana: Anatomy of the Vayus
The earliest yoga teachings describe the life force moving through the body like wind. Through thousands of tubules, channels, and vessels, interior “winds” (vayus) animate all tissues in living prana. In this in-depth study of the subtle body, we explore the five primary winds — in the lower intestine, solar plexus, chest, and head. We use yoga posture, pranayama, and somatic practice (SATYA) to activate or mitigate the strength of each vayu. In order to meet the needs of your own physical condition, we take into account your fatigue levels, blood pressure, digestion, and age.
This process requires sensitivity and inner listening. We map the pathway of the inner winds throughout the body in order to bring greater wakefulness and movement to each vayu. Through dharma study, guided meditation, yoga nidra, somatic awareness, and yoga postures, this is a transformational week of practice and study. Each day includes seated meditation, chanting, and inspirational dharma teaching followed by Somatic Awareness Training (SATYA). We offer both dynamic and restorative yoga practices to harmonize and enhance each vayu. In this intensive we will investigate poems of awakening from the yoga, Taoist, and Zen traditions to inspire opening in the physical body.
Day 1: Apana
This first day is the groundwork for the entire study. When the lower spine and its associated organs are healthy, one can feel lightness and space in their entire body. This day serves to release congestion, strain, and imbalances in the lower abdomen in order to increase mobility within the first and second chakras. We cover the lumbar spine, sacrum, pelvis, and pelvic organs. We do standing poses, twists, inversions, supine poses, supported backbends, and pranayama with focus on exhalation.
Day 2: Samana
The fire center of the body is difficult to control yet is the source of the body’s inner vitality. Samana is present in the upper abdomen and relates to digestive fire and the third chakra. This area is the furnace for digestive function and absorption. This class aims to help release holding in the mid-trunk and solar plexus. In this day we explore the effect of uddiyana bandha on the abdominal region in SATYA, twists, forward bends, and pranayama.
Day 3: Prana
Prana resides in the heart and is the gateway to the experience of lightness and joy. In this day we concentrate on opening the upper ribs, sternum, and collar bones in order to improve elasticity of the lungs. Our emphasis is on releasing restriction in the diaphragm and to refining the movement of the breath. We explore the ways that grief, depression, and joy are governed by prana. Practice includes backbends, inversions, meditation, and pranayama.
Day 4: Udana
Udana is the upward rising breath located primarily in the throat and head. It is the most difficult of all the vayus to control. In this day, we will see how stress, psychological tension, and emotional strain result in constriction of the neck, jaw, and tongue. This class addresses the effects of jalandhara bandha related to the throat chakra. We do inversions, supported backbends, meditation, chanting, and pranayama.
Day 5: Vyana
This is the vayu that governs circulation and the profusion of prana throughout the body and is the most healing of all the internal currents. It involves the circulation of blood through the organs, glands, and tissues of the body. Vyana, the “dispersing wind,” serves to build meditative awareness, serenity, and deep rest. We do floor work, supported poses, savasana, yoga nidra, and meditation.
When: August 3 – 7 | 9:30am – 5:00pm Mountain Time
Cost: 1,395 + tax
*Registration includes daily vegan, organic, gluten-free lunches and tea
*Anatomy of the Vayus is good for 30-Hours of Continuing Education hours through Yoga Alliance, and can be applied towards required hours for the Prajna Yoga Therapy Track and our 300/500-Hour Teacher Training Program
