Week Five
Week five of YTT at The Tree Yoga Cooperative got dense with our Anatomy Weekend. Saturday our focus was on the physical body and its systems. Sunday we got into the systems of the emotional (or energetic/subtle) body. Wednesday evening as always was our practice together and discussion on the fourth Yama, brahmacharya - or non-excess. Let’s get into it!
SATURDAY
Yoga is supported by every system of the body in one way or another. And each of the physical systems of the body in turn support each other. For example, in Saturday’s class we reviewed the major action and functional movements of the joints and muscles in the body. It is this interconnected system of muscle and bone that orchestrates the movement of the body through space — a function that is key to the yoga asana practice. The nervous system is another fundamental system that plays a role in the yoga asana practice. It can be thought of as the physical manifestation of the mind-body connection we hear so much about in our yoga classes. Through the nervous system the brain can send a signal to the arms to reach up overhead for upward salute — the arm muscles receive the signal from the brain to move. To give another example, the respiratory system is not only responsible for bringing oxygen into the body through the breath. We can also use a slow, deliberate breath to stimulate the nervous system and bring the body out of the fight-or-flight response and into the more restorative rest-and-digest mode. These systems and many more support our yoga practice and our well-being.
Pictured above, slide from anatomy lecture depicting the different systems of the body.
What this review of anatomy revealed is that the body is not simply a collection of complex systems, it is in fact a cohesive unit made of many parts constantly at work to bring itself back to equilibrium. It is a beautiful technology here for our benefit. And although the lecture got pretty dense, our trainers reminded us that this 200 hour training is just a taste of a variety of subjects a person could study for years!
SUNDAY
Our discussion of anatomy got esoteric as we turned our attention away from the physical (or gross body) and to the subtle body. The subtle body (often called the emotional body or the energetic body) may be an unfamiliar term. When you have a “gut feeling” about something or when you have a “heart-to-heart” conversation with someone you are more acutely experiencing your subtle body at work.
In Sunday’s lecture, we received an introduction to the koshas, chakras, and nadis — three subtle body systems rooted in the same Eastern Hindu lineage as our yoga practices today.
Pictured above, illustration of the five koshas. Source aatmyyogashala.com
The five koshas can be seen as five interconnected energy sheaths that surround the body. Starting from the sheath closest to the body and moving out, these layers are: the gross body, the vital body, the mental body, the intellectual body, and the bliss body. We can affect these layers with nutrition, breath control (pranayama), meditation, contemplation, and devotion to the divine.
Pictured above, the seven energetic centers of the chakras along with the three central channels of the nadis. Source yogapedia.com
The chakras are wheels of energy that exist along the spine beginning at the base and extending up to the crown. They are centered at the base of the spine, the sacrum, the solar plexus, the heart, the throat, the third eye, and the crown. Each chakra vibrates and spins at its own rate. They have a physical and emotional domain and can become blocked due to trauma or underdevelopment. Yoga practices can aid in healing these subtle body imbalances.
The nadis are channels or pathways for energy to flow throughout the body. There are three main channels of the nadis — though there are believed to be thousands weaving through the energetic body. These pathways connect the chakras and like the chakras they can become clouded or blocked as we collect energetic static throughout our day. Energetic practices such as pranayama breathing (breath control) can work to clear these pathways and increase pranic flow.
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Following the lecture we discussed the subtle body as it pertains to our yoga practice. Yoga is a practice that can bring us to the present moment, and as our practice deepens yoga can actually attune our attention to the subtle body. This awareness alerts us to our needs and desires. By listening closely to this system we can better hear ourselves, understand ourselves, and ultimately discover ourselves.
WEDNESDAY
During Wednesday evening’s practice Jana skillfully led the class through a yoga sequence that progressively built to our peak posture, crow pose. This was a challenging and fun practice that was greatly appreciated by many in the class.
Afterwards, we settled into the evening to discuss the fourth Yama. Brahmacharya — or non-excess — can be translated to mean celibacy. A more literal translation of the word would be “to walk with god”. And while brahmacharya can often look like celibacy, the purpose of this Yama is to remind the practitioner to use their vital energy wisely. In our class discussion, we talked about how living in authenticity and understanding your needs can help one to live in moderation. A connection to self is an important aspect of brahmacharya. When we are out of step with who we are, we may be more likely to abuse ourselves or mistreat others. This Yama calls to to live in moderation with respect for the sacredness of life.
LET’S HEAR FROM THE CLASS!
What were you most surprised/excited to learn during this week’s training sessions?
“This week I was most excited to explore the subtle body & many other body systems that work harmoniously together to support the overall well-being of an individual. It's really fascinating to look at the images & discuss the functions of the chakras, nadis, koshas, circulatory system, digestive & respiratory systems, the nervous system, & musculoskeletal system. To see how they all spread throughout different parts of the body and literally communicate with each other in order to keep us whole, alive, & functioning is nothing short of miraculous. It is also a reminder to be in gratitude, everyday, for all that is working for my Good. I also really appreciated the dynamic conversation & insight that was sparked from all this. We got to clarify what true Feminine & Masculine energy can look like, represented through the Ida & Pingala nadis, and how it is expressed for all beings, regardless of what sex they might identify with. Just like each day we see the sun & the moon, they come & go, and work with each other to balance out the day and life on the planet. The same is true within a given individual.”
— Jana (Spring YTT 2021 instructor)