Yoga Journal USA – June 2017

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 practiced

yogi 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 2017

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