YTTC Chakra Yoga

with Roy Griffin

 

The Chakras can be explained in many ways - As sounds, colours, shapes on a physical level, energetic or mental level. Even as elemental or universal forces, part of the template of existence: a multi dimensional universe that converges at key points or plexus within all living things. From the most basic to complex, this web is what connects everything.

 

That’s a mouthful, how on earth are we, in our human existence, to make sense of all this?

 

 As it is a multi dimensional there are as many ways to tap into this cosmic force as you can imagine. No matter where you look it is there, not matter how you listen it is there, it is the substance that all senses are based upon. Many have found ways; pathways so to speak that are very effective for raising our consciousness to a level that we can sustain a constant awareness to this super consciousness. Yoga is one, Tao another, Sufi another, within them all individuals find their own way. The postman who is simply alive within, or the surfer who rides the way, the mechanic who understands the way. For most people it is enough to be awoken, the delight is the joy of living.

 

The First Chakra: is the Base. All structures need a solid foundation for support and to build upon. Upon that is the Second Chakra: Empowerment, a container that by its very nature generates more energy and awareness than it takes to maintain. This leads us to an ever increasing energy and awareness until we reach a state of over flowing and this is the Third Chakra: Vitality. To have more than one needs, brings a quality of giving and sharing. As giving is receiving, what we receive from our sharing is gratitude and it is this gratitude that softens our heart and opens us to the Fourth Charka: Compassion. We dare to care and generate a state of sharing, with courage and conviction of heart we trust and let go of control and allow the Fifth Chakra: Wisdom to come through, we trust our silence and wait with an open mind to receive the insights from moment to moment. The wisdom of the intuitive mind comes to the fore.

O.K. Roy, sounds great but I am now daunted and unsure that I could even begin this exploration, how can I apply it in my yoga practice?

 

What I have explained is a template, a core structure of our nature. When we tap into it with awareness it brings many rewards to our lives. Let me explain some more. I will use practicing postures as the example: The foundation practice of all posture work is the base, work from the floor up. This is true for all postures whether you are standing on your feet or your head. The connection the body has to the floor is elementally important. That is why centering at the beginning of your yoga session is so important: you are turning in, resting down and connecting to the earth element. Commonly known as "grounding" or "centering". This in an expression of the First Chakra: the "Base" or "Root" 

 

Now this is where it gets really interesting, we will place the seven chakras in the first one........so as we continue to develop our practice and gain more experience something begins to happen. We empower ourselves within the base and yielding happens, we can hold the postures longer and stronger while holding the connection with the base. We draw the energy up! This is why it is very important, that after centering at the start of the yoga session, you keep coming back to centre during the session with the idea being that you remain centered through all of the session. Being empowered in the base chakra is the ability to enhance the body’s strength. Flexibility, stamina and awareness while staying calm, focused and centered.

 

To do this we need to stop struggling with the floor: what do you mean struggling with the floor?

 

If we approach a yoga session with the wish to get away from some ailments or pain or with a strong wish to achieve a beautiful body, we hit the mat running so to speak. We are in a rush for that sense of power or quickly want to rid ourselves of our disempowerment. So this usually takes the form of forcing the body into harshness, that at an instinctual level we know is causing more harm than good, but fear is a strong motivator. But there is another way, the middle way, the central path. But to hold this path we must hold our ground, regardless of what the mind and its desires and expectations try to enforce. There is natural elemental wisdom within the earth and by just remaining connected to it we prosper. The challenge is to move slowly in small amounts in our body. See every small movement as a step to empowerment by holding our ground and remaining centered, feeling the body build its strength and awareness. This allows us to discern the difference between what the mind is attempting to impose upon the body and what the body is telling us is naturally right and correct.

 

As we hold the postures longer and move through our bodies slowly and in small amount, we are clearing out the negative energy and blocks one by one and thus re-energizing parts of our body that require personal direction attention. In doing so we are Empowering the Base Chakra, so we learn to maintain connection to the root as we lie on our backs, sit on our sit bones, stand on our feet and so on.

 

But what about when we get off the mat?

Well we bring the ground with us, into our home, in all the different rooms. We bring the ground into our relationships, with the ones closest and even our work colleagues and strangers in the street. We experience the ground, the root, in the car, the office, and the park….. so much so that it begins to take on a life of its own. The natural template has kicked in and we are living more and more with the wisdom of the earth guiding us on our life path. As we step, we step with the earth, if the earth is not beneath our feet: STOP, STOP STRUGGLING and centre until the earth is beneath your feet again and move forward to the next level. The Third Chakra: Vitality........within the base. This is when the ground is over flowing within us and each step we take is a vital step!

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