Fiery Cleansing

We awaken the digestive fire,Samana Vayu,that cleanses the body. The foundation of health is the ability to use what we need and discard what we do not. When we take in more than we can use, we disturb our health. Digestion is responsible for this work. Its many organs digest and metabolise through complex mechanical and chemical processes, forming the body’s centre of transformation. In yoga practice, we awaken digestion through massage, mobilising and “squeezing” the abdomen with pulsing movements, raising the body’s temperature, twists and inversions. Read more about the importance of yogic nutrition on the blog.

Mindfulness: Emotions, thoughts and states are “digested” according to the same principle. To maintain a healthy mind, we need to release what is harmful and choose what we want to cultivate. In Buddhism, this practice is called Right Effort and can be applied simply to establish a boundary and avoid going where it is unhealthy to go.

Yoga therapy for: 

• supporting digestion and metabolism
• better circulation
• detoxification and cleansing the body
• core strength
• strengthening the abdominal muscles
• flow within the body
• emotional release
• difficulties with food
• overcoming lethargy.

INTRODUCTORY TALK AND YOGA CLASS ON THE MONTH’S THEME – 75 MIN

THE MAGIC WITHIN US

Digestion is the principle through which the body extracts energy for action from matter.

This principle matters because it contains the medicine for a healthy and vital life.

Through the digestive system, the body mechanically and chemically breaks down, processes, assimilates and discards food, emotions and thoughts. Today, we begin with wonder at the perfection of this natural principle, no longer taking for granted that it is “normal” to eat and receive energy from food for everything we do. We see the magic unfolding within and understand its sensitivity and gentleness. We want to support this natural principle in doing its work more easily and effortlessly. After the talk, an extensive class takes us through the fundamental principles and introduces several additional elements, so proceed slowly.

40 MIN

1. BECOMING FRIENDS

Today, we again take time to review the fundamental principles we will practise and repeat this month so that they become easier and more natural. Work with the abdomen and digestion is sensitive because this is where we store what we do not want to touch.

Many emotions, experiences and traumas that have not been processed or digested can remain stored within the system.

Now that we have decided to work with the abdomen, the body may initially respond with resistance and aversion and invent all kinds of reasons not to address it directly. Do not give up. We begin slowly and clearly so that you understand the work and introduce every principle gently. As always, the most important thing is never to cross the boundary into struggle. We listen to and work with the breath to settle and balance ourselves. 

60 MIN

2. SHAKE THE JAR

Today, we begin with the metaphor of digestion as an empty honey jar into which we pour water to rinse away the small amount of honey stuck to the sides. We would take the jar and shake it up and down, from side to side and in circles so that the water rinses everything away. We therefore begin today with shaking and bouncing to release superficial bubbles of air and set digestion in motion. The class continues calmly and with steady strength. After Sun Salutations, we practise several asanas from a High Lunge base. We alternate forward bends and twists to establish this “inner shaking”. We remain in these asanas a little longer. If the work becomes too demanding, lower one knee to the floor and reduce the depth so that you can breathe more easily and receive more oxygen. On the floor, we also compress the abdomen in a forward bend and twist, then relax with several Bridges that gradually lengthen everything.

MINDFUL SLOW FLOW YOGA – 40 MIN

3. BECOME AWARE, DO NOT BELIEVE

We begin with gentle abdominal massage and lower attention and breath into our inner world. We then hold several asanas calmly, breathing and meditating. We arrange the poses to open and stimulate the energetic pathway of the large intestine. We ask the body what it might now be ready to allow and transform, perhaps an old belief about ourselves or a trauma, so that we can digest what has long remained inscribed in a corner of the system.  

We will experience and feel again every experience that we want to digest, but this time we do not react automatically. This means seeing clearly without believing . Within this attitude lies the key to growth and awakening.

Through the body, we feel the discomfort of the problem, complex or trauma, but simply allow it, breathe and release without believing the story. Remaining in the body is medicine.

40 MIN

4. SQUEEZING THE SIDES

We first mobilise and shake from a standing position, emphasising the shortening and opening of the side abdomen. After warming up and releasing air from the body, we continue with Sun Salutations. Within the asanas, we again squeeze the side body through pulses and hold length from a Warrior II base. We practise one balancing asana, a standing rotation and a forward bend in Prasarita Padottanasana; the rest of the class focuses on lateral squeezing. At the end, we improve the tone of the abdominal muscles.

60 MIN

5. THE MOUTH

The beginning is always essential because its energy shapes how we initiate and continue an action.

The mouth is the beginning of digestion and the only part we can move consciously. Once we swallow food, it continues according to the programme of the digestive organs, which can also change but cannot be controlled consciously in the same way as the mouth. Today, we therefore bring awareness to the oral cavity and practise face yoga to relax the neck muscles, the large masseter, jaw, teeth and tongue. We warm up through Sun Salutations and practise poses that lengthen the neck and open space within the mouth. Several times during the class, we exhale through the mouth and “through the teeth”, releasing the “grey” stress and restlessness that readily accumulate here.

40 MIN

6. PLANK

We again begin standing with gentle shaking and warming up, using several little jumps to awaken the intestines and stimulate circulation. We move through Sun Salutations with additional Plank pulses and play with asymmetrical and Dolphin Planks throughout the class. Naturally, this means spending a little more time on the hands, which I understand can be difficult. Feel free to lower one or both knees and shorten the Plank. Plank is highly useful for connecting the front body and activating the abdominal muscles. It is an unusual relationship with gravity that we rarely use, which is why it feels challenging. At the end, we play with Bridges to connect the body’s deep muscles.

60 MIN

7. A TWISTED LIFE

Today’s class is dedicated to twists, standing and breathing within these asanas.

Twists are one of yoga practice’s forms of magic, offering deep abdominal massage and resetting the spine.

In keeping with the month’s theme, we focus on squeezing within twists using full breathing. We gradually add and develop twists throughout the class. If they feel difficult at first, remain patient, breathe deeply and do not push; the body will let us enter when it is ready. The class is more dynamic and stronger, so I offer options to skip Vinyasas or keep the knees on the floor. Rest well after class and drink plenty of lukewarm liquid. 

40 MIN

8. ABDOMINAL MASSAGE

We review essential abdominal massage exercises, expanding and drawing in with the abdominal muscles and applying pressure with the hands, so that you can continue using them after the month ends. We then repeat the opposite-elbow-to-opposite-knee movement as a pulse that shakes the abdomen from Utkatasana and Warrior I bases. This movement warms and thoroughly mobilises and cleanses the abdomen. On the floor, we complete the practice by strengthening the abdominal and oblique muscles, then relax and lengthen the abdomen over a large cushion or folded blanket. 

The class is simple, so move gradually, attend to the breath and always return to it so that it remains in harmony with the practice.

THE CLASS IS AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE

60 MIN

9. DIGESTING STRESS

We again begin standing with gentle shaking and warming up, using several little jumps to awaken the intestines and stimulate circulation. We move through Sun Salutations with additional Plank pulses and play with asymmetrical and Dolphin Planks throughout the class. Naturally, this means spending a little more time on the hands, which I understand can be difficult. Feel free to lower one or both knees and shorten the Plank. Plank is highly useful for connecting the front body and activating the abdominal muscles. It is an unusual relationship with gravity that we rarely use, which is why it feels challenging. At the end, we play with Bridges to connect the body’s deep muscles.

+ a 10-minute class for every day

WITH CLEAR INTENTION

Sit on the edge of a bed or chair and prepare for a little practice. These simple exercises use the fundamental principles introduced this month, so I recommend doing them every day. You can practise the first few at one time and the remaining exercises later. Simply practise regularly.

We digest stress within the abdomen, where tension, trauma and problems can descend into the digestive fire and burn. It is like clearing an attic and throwing everything unnecessary, old or even dangerous into a great fire. What a relief!