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may/june 2017yogajournal.com.auProstrations, or bowing to the life force, are
powerful movements of humility, peace and
sacred release. Experience a blissful ‘letting
go’ and begin to speak from your inner heart.
Surrender
yourself
MOST YOGA
PRACTITIONERS
are familiar with
Sun Salutations, but
few practice or know
about prostrations —
the full-body surrender
onto the earth that has been
called Pranam (to nam or bow
to the life force). Chaturanga
Dandasana originates as a way to get
into a prostration upon the earth. The
movement of these two asanas —
Chaturanga followed by the whole-
body prostration — creates a totally
different experience of Chaturanga.
The heat of Chaturanga is balanced by
relaxation through the surrender of
these pranams. In the West, Chaturanga
sadly became separated from this great
posture of humility and peace.
A pranam brings about a natural
‘letting go’ that anyone can experience,
from the beginner to the most practiced
yogi. It represents the power of renewal
that is inherent in life, a humble
strength that we can give
to the earth while
receiving from
a deeper
ground ofenergy that is greater than one’s
individual self. There is a primal resting
and remembering that happens when
we rest our belly on the belly of our great
mother earth. This embodied ritual
movement instinctually transforms us,
releasing tensions and awakening us.
Pranams arise from life
circumstances that bring us to our
knees, whether in joy or in great
challenge. They are the ground from
which our prayers are borne and inner
yoga flowers. On the earth, the outer
mind quiets, and we begin to listen
through our inner ears. We begin to
speak from our inner heart. No
instruction is needed to awaken to
the healing power of pranams.
In this sacred release, we have an
all-in-one practice. Pranams are
instant stress-relievers. As we lay
down our burdens, we are able to hear
a different voice, an inner love and
wisdom. In this quiet experience of
literally embracing the earth, we can
let go of our fragmented thoughts,
any stirring emotions, and heed the
intrinsic call to experience the sacred
reflected in the earth.
Chaturanga without pranam
seems vulnerable to ego imbalance,
where we become caught up in focusing
on the outer self, while prostration
calls us to integrate the outer with the
inner or to literally give our strength,
our subconscious tensions, and worries
to the earth. And then to rise again.
Explore this Prana Flow Pranam —
A Prana Vinyasa Namaskar, as
movement meditation. You can
choose the classical pranam (flowing
move from anjali mudra to the earth
in full prostrations before rising again
to standing). You can offer 1, 3, 9, 18, 27,
54, rounds as a really transformative
5-60 minute practice.By Shiva Rea
PHOTO: CHRISTINLOLA/ISTOCKPH
OTO.COM