PHOTOS: CAVEMAN COLLECTIVE; MODEL: SHIVA REA; WARDROBE: MODEL’S OWN
MOST YOGA PRACTITIONERS are familiar
with Sun Salutations, but few know
about prostrations—their fundamental
root. A prostration is a full-body prac-
tice of surrender in which you lie down
on the earth in a gesture of reverential
bowing, called pranam. In Prana Flow
Vinyasa, you start with simple classical
prostrations and then learn a variation
called Prana Flow Pranams—a flowing
sequence of asanas that bridge prostra-
tions with Sun Salutations. A pranam
inspires a natural letting go that anyone
from the beginner to the most practicedyogi can experience. It represents the
power of renewal that’s inherent in life.
There is a primal remembering that
happens when you rest your belly on
the belly of great Mother Earth. This
ritual instinctually transforms, relaxes,
and awakens us.
Use the following pages to explore
the Prana Flow Pranam as a movement
meditation. Start with one round, then
add more, working up to 6o minutes of
flow. You can also use this sequence to
start your day or set a reflective inten-
tion for your regular asana practice.Move into meditation
Prepare for a
life-changing
Sun Salutation
practice with
Shiva Rea’s Prana
Flow pranams.87
june 2017yogajournal.comMASTER CLASS
practice well