Yoga is fascinating.
Just when you think you have a handle and understanding of your practice, you realise there is more.
More to learn, more to practise, understand and get a grip of.
I have practiced yoga on and off for over 12 years.
and teaching it for the last 5 years.
Each day, I discover something more about myself and the effects of yoga on my life.
Most people in the West are familiar with the physical and meditative side of yoga - the postures, meditation and breathing practices.
However few people are aware of the role of energy, or more specifically the three types of energy used in yoga philosophy and teachings.
Three Types of Energy Used In Yoga Philosophy Everyone is aware of energy.
It is an invisible force which moves in and around us.
Have you ever walked into a room in the middle of an argument and felt the tension in the air? That is energy.
In yoga, energy is known as prana.
All forms of life consists of energy.
There are three types, or qualities of energy which is seen in all life forms, from the food you eat, the way you speak, touch someone, the tv programmes you watch, even the way you walk can be viewed from an energetic perspective.
The Three Gunas The three Gunas are Sanskrit words for the three energies of the Universe.
All life forms consist of one of the three Gunas: which are: Satva (pure energy) Rajas (overstimulation energy) Tamas (inertia, heavy, dead energy) From a yogic perspective, the type of energy you inhibit and express is a reflection on your level of contentment and inner balance.
A wise yogi is able to remain pure and balanced and when called for, able to transmute his energy into one of the other forms of energy.
In fact, life is a mixture of all three Gunas and through your yoga practice you strive to make a healthy balance within and between the three Gunas.
Sattvic Energy Sattvic energy is pure, light, very gentle, peaceful and loving.
It is a balancing quiet energy and has the least negative effect on the body and surrounding environment.
For instance, if you follow a yogic diet, you will want to use foods which enhance your energy and vitality, are naturally grown, light, easily digestible and cause least harm to the environment.
For example, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, oats, quinoa, herbs.
When you lay on the floor in Savasana (the Corpse Pose) or when you meditate, your energy is very pure, quiet and light.
Sattvic energy is very subtle yet powerful and allows healing and restoration to naturally occur.
Rajasic Energy Rajasic energy is seen in a windy day, when the wind whips up the leaves and blows them furiously across the street, a turbulant sea, passion, restlessness or an energetic yoga sequence, like the Sun Salutation.
The key to understanding rajasic energy, is movement and stimulation.
Sometimes this stimulation can lead to overstimulation and aggravate a situation.
For example,rajasic foods, such as coffee, strong herbs and spices, white sugar, stimulants such as drugs, nicotine, over stimulates the body and mind.
Tamasic Energy From an energetic perspective, tamasic energy is heavy, deep, dull, hard, lifeless and old.
If you look at the foods you eat, a tamasic diet consists of heavy foods, deep fried meals, meat, over-cooked, reheated foods; as well as foods containing lots of preservatives and chemicals.
Even sattvic foods eaten in excess can be seen as tamasic energy.
When you practice yoga and you start to push your body beyond its natural limits or negatively compare yourself to another student, then your practcie becomes tamasic and not sattvic or rajasic.
Summary As you can see, when you look at the world through the eyes of the three Gunas - Sattvic energy (pure) Rajasic energy (movement, stimulation) and Tamasic energy (heavy, lifeless, dull, hard) you gain a deeper appreciation of your world and your yoga practice.
I often see students rush into a class, stressed, tense and in pain (tamasic) and restless, fidgety and anxious (rajasic) as they settle into their practice and, leave feeling light, balanced and calm (satvic).
When you look at the world this way, you gain a deeper understanding of yoga and role it plays in developing positive life affirming habits Yoga is about balance.
So I urge you to take time, explore your world and energies in and around you, your home and place of work and strive to bring greater balance, harmony into your life.
Just when you think you have a handle and understanding of your practice, you realise there is more.
More to learn, more to practise, understand and get a grip of.
I have practiced yoga on and off for over 12 years.
and teaching it for the last 5 years.
Each day, I discover something more about myself and the effects of yoga on my life.
Most people in the West are familiar with the physical and meditative side of yoga - the postures, meditation and breathing practices.
However few people are aware of the role of energy, or more specifically the three types of energy used in yoga philosophy and teachings.
Three Types of Energy Used In Yoga Philosophy Everyone is aware of energy.
It is an invisible force which moves in and around us.
Have you ever walked into a room in the middle of an argument and felt the tension in the air? That is energy.
In yoga, energy is known as prana.
All forms of life consists of energy.
There are three types, or qualities of energy which is seen in all life forms, from the food you eat, the way you speak, touch someone, the tv programmes you watch, even the way you walk can be viewed from an energetic perspective.
The Three Gunas The three Gunas are Sanskrit words for the three energies of the Universe.
All life forms consist of one of the three Gunas: which are: Satva (pure energy) Rajas (overstimulation energy) Tamas (inertia, heavy, dead energy) From a yogic perspective, the type of energy you inhibit and express is a reflection on your level of contentment and inner balance.
A wise yogi is able to remain pure and balanced and when called for, able to transmute his energy into one of the other forms of energy.
In fact, life is a mixture of all three Gunas and through your yoga practice you strive to make a healthy balance within and between the three Gunas.
Sattvic Energy Sattvic energy is pure, light, very gentle, peaceful and loving.
It is a balancing quiet energy and has the least negative effect on the body and surrounding environment.
For instance, if you follow a yogic diet, you will want to use foods which enhance your energy and vitality, are naturally grown, light, easily digestible and cause least harm to the environment.
For example, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, oats, quinoa, herbs.
When you lay on the floor in Savasana (the Corpse Pose) or when you meditate, your energy is very pure, quiet and light.
Sattvic energy is very subtle yet powerful and allows healing and restoration to naturally occur.
Rajasic Energy Rajasic energy is seen in a windy day, when the wind whips up the leaves and blows them furiously across the street, a turbulant sea, passion, restlessness or an energetic yoga sequence, like the Sun Salutation.
The key to understanding rajasic energy, is movement and stimulation.
Sometimes this stimulation can lead to overstimulation and aggravate a situation.
For example,rajasic foods, such as coffee, strong herbs and spices, white sugar, stimulants such as drugs, nicotine, over stimulates the body and mind.
Tamasic Energy From an energetic perspective, tamasic energy is heavy, deep, dull, hard, lifeless and old.
If you look at the foods you eat, a tamasic diet consists of heavy foods, deep fried meals, meat, over-cooked, reheated foods; as well as foods containing lots of preservatives and chemicals.
Even sattvic foods eaten in excess can be seen as tamasic energy.
When you practice yoga and you start to push your body beyond its natural limits or negatively compare yourself to another student, then your practcie becomes tamasic and not sattvic or rajasic.
Summary As you can see, when you look at the world through the eyes of the three Gunas - Sattvic energy (pure) Rajasic energy (movement, stimulation) and Tamasic energy (heavy, lifeless, dull, hard) you gain a deeper appreciation of your world and your yoga practice.
I often see students rush into a class, stressed, tense and in pain (tamasic) and restless, fidgety and anxious (rajasic) as they settle into their practice and, leave feeling light, balanced and calm (satvic).
When you look at the world this way, you gain a deeper understanding of yoga and role it plays in developing positive life affirming habits Yoga is about balance.
So I urge you to take time, explore your world and energies in and around you, your home and place of work and strive to bring greater balance, harmony into your life.