Comments on: Energy Cross-Training Part 1/3: The Real Purpose of Yoga

By: lenny

lenny — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:11:45 +0000

thanks for this.
it really gets to the heart of my program for survivors.
it’s can be difficult to explain how/why all three components (yoga/breath/meditation) complement each other to people that do not have a practice, or practice one discipline only.

again, THNX!!!

By: Paul Erskine

Paul Erskine — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:24:50 +0000

Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge Bruce. It’s fantastic stuff and helps to improve lives (and make people happier)… Your website, blogs, books etc have a wealth of invaluable life-changing info in them.

By: richard

richard — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:36:48 +0000

Hi Robert,
Thanks for the correction…this was an editor error.
Richard

By: Robert Sweet

Robert Sweet — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:12:03 +0000

Great blog – interesting subject. Let’s take care of one possible (but very important) typo first. The Sanskrit term prajna means “wisdom” he term prana means “energy or lifeforce.” I’m assuming that you meant prana due to its neighborly association with energy flow and chi.

Terms and ideas always get complicated when we try to explain states of being and consciousness that are beyond the capability of our “normal” mind to understand or integrate. The energy channels in play during samyama (the yogic equivalent of meditation; concentration, contemplation (one-pointed flow), samadhi (”the thing itself” or unity of consciousness) are ida, pingala, and the sushumna. These are located on the left, right, and deep center of the spine. Ida (energizing thoughts and feelings) and pingala(will; intent and action) cross back and forth through the chakras from the tailbone (muladhara chakra) to the crown (Sahaswara chakra). The chakras (tailbone, sacrum, navel, heart, throat) are aligned along sushumna in the spine, then Ajna (forehead, third eye) and culminating at Sahaswara (1000 petal lotus) are the yogic path to Enlightenment, the start of Spiritual Life.

The term Yoga (Union) is best defined as the state of harmony of body, mind, and inner self. This inner harmony expressed in outer harmony with the world. Unfortunately the vast majority of yoga instruction in the West focuses on the body uses techniques and practices associated with Hatha yoga. Interestingly, Hatha (literally sun/moon) yoga focuses primarily on asana and pranayama. In the classic tradition of yoga it isn’t even considered one of the four main yogas – Raja, Jnana, Karma, and Bhakti.

So when sitting to meditate, get straight, breathe deep, be calm and centered, and allow your awareness to transcend (go beyond) the rational mind and experience the source of consciousness … gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha … enjoy.

By: Philip

Philip — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:13:19 +0000

This is great and has expanded my understanding of the connection between tai chi and yoga. It makes very much sense. Thankyou. Btw, your DVD’s are the most clear and easy to follow of any I have found. I live in an area where I don’t have access to attending your seminars and workshops, so I am grateful for your DVD’s, CD’s and books. Your energy is so clear and clean and filled with peace.

Peace,

Philip

By: Barbara

Barbara — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:16:15 +0000

Hi Bruce,
thanks for creating a blog for us. Can you comment something on the focus at the tan t’ien in Standing Meditation, as compared to the focus in yoga siting meditation where we keep it at the third eye? I’ve done Standing Meditation for years and feel very comfortable and free of body during it, and I can stand for a long duration, I feel less comfortable when sitting and more difficult to keep the focus at the third eye.

By: Dwai

Dwai — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:38:47 +0000

Dear Bruce Sifu,

I have read your books on the Taoist Water Method (they are among the most prized in my collection among most of your other books)…the fascinating thing is that your explanation of Taoist esoterica is identical (sometimes almost to the finest details) with the Indian systems of Samkhya (Yoga) and Advaita (both from the description of the energetics to the intellectual aspects).

Hatha Yoga is simply a component of Ashtanga (8-limbs) Yoga. The 8 are, needless to say: Yama, Niyama, Asana (Hatha Yoga), Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. So yes, Hatha Yoga (asana practice) and Pranayama are both preparatory to the process of Sense-withdrawal (Pratyahara), Dharana, Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (union with Ultimate Consciousness) (inner dissolving, if I might borrow what I have learnt from you).

I am glad you have started writing this blog.

Grateful for the knowledge you share.

Best Regards,

Dwai

By: Geoff Lister

Geoff Lister — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:55:27 +0000

Bruce–this is a wonderful guide to how yoga and tai chi can help someone who has a meditation practice avoid some of the energy blockages that plague so many meditators I know, as they did me in my pre-tai chi years. Although I studied with an excellent zen teacher he had minimal instruction for us on how to center in our bellies and how to keep our bodies energetically balanced and open. Many of us suffered from a lot of knee and back pain as well as mental imbalances.

By: Taichi Master Bruce Frantzis

Taichi Master Bruce Frantzis — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:36:58 +0000

The first thing, having so many multiple problems, it is very difficult to make a clear statement without seeing you. What may be the path for you is not obvious without actually viewing the problems. Any sort of cross training would be based upon the common thread that goes throughout these problems.

The one thing that would probably make sense for all of this is to really focus on the Taoist breathing and try to get your breathe from moving in your tantien to go to every part of your body. Whatever bad things you have, you want to have your breathe going through that part of your body, this is something that is done in Longevity Breathing Yoga.If you can get your breath and some chi moving through your body, then the path that you need to take towards any kind of cross training, considering your conditions, will be dramatically easier.

You might find it terribly valuable to come to my breathing training in Crete if it is a possibility. Given the multiple issues going on, it would take time to figure out the best path for you. If I can see you for an extended period of time at one of my trainings I will be able to assess your situation and give more specific advice.

By: Charlie Montross

Charlie Montross — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:34:32 +0000

Wonderful explanation. Through my own experience, I have found a good stretch is very useful in getting knots and stress out of my body before I do qigong and/or meditation. I have tried and looked at various yogas but their emphasis seems to be very “macho” in terms of how much stretch you can do or hold a posture.
A book explaining and demonstrating the taoist yoga would be useful for all.