Pranayama, Kriyas & Meditation: The Path Beyond Asana

In honor of Ratha Saptami, our community came together to complete 132 rounds of Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation). The practice was accompanied by powerful Vedic chanting led by our Acharyas, merging physical endurance with spiritual devotion.

Our TTC students chant the 'Saha Navavatu', a Shanti Mantra praying for nourishment, protection, and collaborative learning without animosity. This embodies the spirit of our training: a shared journey of growth between teacher and student.

Suryanamaskara is a harmonious blend of movement and sound. Here, our TTC students flow through the classical sequence while chanting the twelve mantras dedicated to the sun, deepening their focus and connection to this ancient, meditative practice.

The 'Asato Ma Sadgamaya' is a universal prayer from the Upanishads, asking to be led from ignorance to truth. Our students learn and chant these powerful mantras to set the intention for their practice and connect with the philosophical heart of yoga.

We collaborate with experts to offer unique experiences like this New Moon Sound Meditation session. This practice of Nada Yoga uses sound vibrations to facilitate deep relaxation and inner peace, and we will soon offer a Teacher Training Program for it.

We begin our practice by honoring the lineage of yoga masters. Here, our students chant a rare invocation to Maharshi Patanjali, the compiler of the Yoga Sutras, acknowledging the source of this profound knowledge and setting a tone of reverence.

Sutra Neti is one of the six Shatkarmas, or cleansing techniques, taught in our TTC. This practice involves passing a thread through the nasal passages to cleanse them of impurities, improve breathing, and enhance cognitive faculties like memory and concentration.

Jala Neti, or nasal cleansing with saline water, is another essential Shatkarma we teach. This practice helps manage diseases of the upper respiratory tract by removing allergens and dust, enhancing sinus drainage, and improving overall nasal health.

Here, our instructor Amaresh demonstrates Jala Neti without a pot, a more advanced technique. This shows the level of mastery that can be achieved over these yogic cleansing practices through consistent and dedicated sadhana.