Hanumanasana

Hanumanasana
This posture is dedicated to the Monkey God Hanuman, who is an epitome of strength of surrender. Physically this posture is an intense stretch of the thigh area.

Step-by-step

Kneel on the floor. Extend your right leg forward and bend your torso with an exhale so that both your hands are on the floor.
Slowly start sliding your right foot forward. As the front leg straightens, resume pressing the left knee back, and carefully descend the front of the left thigh and the back of the right leg (and the base of the pelvis) to the floor. Make sure the center of the right knee points directly up toward the ceiling.
Please make sure that the back leg does not extend to the side back. Extend the front leg by keeping it active and engaged.
If the hip doesn’t reach the floor then hold your body weight on your hands. If it reaches the floor join the hands together in prayer position.
Hold the position for 30 seconds to one minute depending on your comfort level. To come out, press your hands to the floor, turn the front leg out slightly, and slowly return the front heel and the back knee to their starting positions. Then reverse the legs and repeat for the same length of time.

Sadhana – The practice and the process

A few months back I faced a very peculiar and common question from a student. She mentioned that her “practice” was not improving. She has been a yoga enthusiast and a teacher for more than 10 years and when I asked her what was it that she meant by practice, she said “her head stand was not stable enough”.

The famous yoga guru, Shri. Pattabhi Jois, once said “practice, practice and everything is coming”. This one small sentence has probably launched a thousand yoga studios across the world. But, my thought is, are we reading the word “practice” in the right spirit? Do we all need to widen our definition of “practice” in the context of Yoga.

Probably the word “practice” has been literally translated from the Sanskrit word “Sadhana”. Read more…

Upcoming Workshops in 2011 – 2012

A brief overview of Prasad’s schedule for 2011 – 2012. Workshops and retreats have been planned across the globe, in countries including Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Canada, Germany, Belgium, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Italy, Austria and Israel. Further information and details will be made available on the website as and when confirmed.

DATES	PLACE	TOPIC
Sep. 2011	Mumbai, India	Scripture Study Course (Yoga Sutra)
Oct. 2011	Bangkok, Thailand	Workshop at Yoga Journal Conference
Oct. 2011	Hong Kong	Self Transformation Workshop
Nov. 2011	Toronto, Canada	Ayurveda Yoga Master Intensive
Dec. 2011	Montreal, Canada	Mind-Body Transformation
Dec. 2011	Saskatoon, Canada	Self Love through Yoga
Jan. 2012	Pondicherry, India	Relax, Heal, Rejuvenate Retreat
Feb. 2012	Across India	21 Day Spiritual India Tour
Mar. 2012	Himalayas, India	Yogaprasad Teacher Training Course in Himalayas
May 2012	Germany, Belgium, Lithuania	Europe Tour Yoga workshops and Retreats
June 2012	Rome, Italy	Workshop at The Yoga Festival
June 2012	Austria & Czech Republic	Europe Tour, Workshops
July 2012	Israel	Workshops and Retreat
Sep. 2012	Thailand	Proposed Yogaprasad Teacher Training Course in South East Asia

The Tempest of Transformation

Dear friends,

It feels nice to be back with you on the site. It has been a whirlwind tour of 12 weeks across 11 countries, and what a tour it was! If I can sum up my experience in one word I would say “awakening”. Yes, the world is waking up. There is a wave of personal uprising, which is spinning off into people’s movement. Read more…

The Dune Yoga Retreat 2012

28th Jan to 4th Feb 2012. A journey to relax, heal and explore yourself through methods of Yoga amidst the beautiful and nourishing nature of South India.

For details, visit: soulretreats.wordpress.com/

Bharadvajasana

Bharadvajasana

Step-by-step

Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front. Shift over onto your right buttock, bend your knees, and swing your legs to the left. Lay your feet on the floor outside your left hip, with the left ankle resting in the right arch.
Twist your torso to the right, keeping the left buttock on or very close to the floor. Lengthen your tailbone toward the floor to keep the lower back long.
Place your left hand under your right knee and bring your right hand to the floor just next to your right buttock.
Press your shoulder blades firmly against your back.
Continue the twist of the torso by turning it to the right; or counter the twist of the torso by turning it left and looking over the left shoulder at your feet.
With every inhalation lift the spine a little more, with every exhalation twist a little more. Stay for 30 seconds to 1 minute, then release with an exhalation, return to the starting position, and repeat to the left for the same length of time.

Benefits

This asana is a safe way of developing the spinal flexibility.
The twists help to give the abdominal area a gentle massage thus helping heal ailments of the gastro intestinal tract.

The Imminent and Transient

The topic of ‘Injury‘ in asana practice has always fascinated me. Over years of traveling I have met Yogis who have had asana injuries which have made them feel ‘lesser than normal Yogis’. I wonder what makes them push themselves over the edge, what makes them greedy enough to take their body for granted and suffer.

This question brings us to a very important point mentioned in the books of yoga (Katha-Upanishad), the concept of Shreyas and Preyas. Shreyas and Preyas are two paths mentioned in the Upanishad. The simplest meaning of the paths is basically the ‘perspective’ with which you look at things. ‘Shreyas’ is the path of lasting good and ‘Preyas’ is the path of immediate satisfaction. Read more…

Workshops in 2011

Living in Lightness (October 2011)

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Upanishad Retreat – Israel (July 2011)

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Yoga Sutra Workshop – Israel (July 2011)

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Self-love Workshop – Lithuania (June 2011)

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Masterclass in Yoga Kula – Vienna (June 2011)

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Yoga Workshop – Vienna (June 2011)

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Yoga Workshop – European Commission (May 2011)

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Yoga Workshop – Munich (May 2011)

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Yoga Retreat in the Himalayas (February 2011)

“For many years I have suffered from an inferiority complex about my dance. During Prasad’s workshop, my soul opened up. And for the first time in my life my body was dancing with so much that I wept with joy. I could not understand what was happening to me. I finally felt freedom in dance – “It’s wonderful!” – because I thought before that I could never dance.

I had never practised yoga before that. It was a new and unexpected experience for my body. My chest filled up with oxygen, became free and I was breathing easily. Now I practise exercises and feel more energy and high spirits. I have been getting lighter and more flexible.

During meditaton on the river Teacher (Master) asked us, “What have you comprehended from workshop about yourself? What is your motto?” The answer that came to me was, “Trusting myself, turning inwards deeply – diving into myself!” I could feel the river, its stream, it seemed to me that the river penetrated through me. Now I feel that my womanhood will also blossom. I want to feel myself like a woman – I want to love and be loved.

After the trip to India, I have got internal tranquillity, peace of mind and self-trust. I discovered Love. I am happy. I am grateful to Prasad, love him like my Teacher (Master) and wish to keep going on up this path.”

- Aldana
Workshop participant from Lithuania

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Mind-Body Transformation Through Yoga (March 2011)

“This is the fifth time I have joined his workshop. I started my spiritual journey in 2006 and the first workshop that I joined was Prasad’s Yoga Workshop.

But each time that I came close to him, I would feel annoyed and disturbed emotionally by his presence. It seemed as though he could cut through the layers of my mind and go directly to my essence. He helped me face my fears every time, which was a painful process at that moment. I promised myself each time, “Okay, it’s the last one, no more of this, he does not understand my sufferings or story.” However, after a while, I could sense that I am a little bit lighter than before, and I came back again each time for being disturbed, i.e. facing what I have been covering up.

For me, the spiritual journey is a process of discovering the true self or the truth. On the way, you have to come face to face with those emotions or fears that you have hidden for a long, long time. This process is very painful, but yet meaningful. And it is also a process to learn how to love yourself and embrace yourself, whoever you are. Self love and acceptance is the key. If you can’t face the mud that covers the goldstone, how can you find the gold underneath? And the truth is, you are the gold.”

- Helen Ho
Participant at the Yoga Workshop in Hongkong

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The Relax & Restore Retreat – Pondicherry, India (March 2011)

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Detox with Yoga Workshops – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (April 2011)

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Students at the workshop at American School of Bombay

“Prasad’s yoga workshops helped our actors cultivate a heightened awareness of their bodies and physical abilities. His techniques also helped to focus them toward the character work. By integrating the mind and body Prasad and his yoga classes opened up the actors to both physical and mental work. Prasad is a wonderful teacher and yoga practitioner and we are so fortunate to be able to work with him.”

- Jillian Campana, Ph.D.
Artistic Director – Studio Three Theatre (USA and India)
American School of Bombay – Theatre Faculty
University of Montana – Professor of Theatre

Yoga for Physical Education

Prasad made yoga fun yet challenging for our physical education students at the American School of Bombay. His communication was age level appropriate (11 – 16 year olds) enabling him to quickly establish a good rapport with our students. His expertise was evident as he blended the health related components of fitness with yoga and made excellent anatomical and physiological connections. Prasad made yoga meaningful to our students by explaining the benefits to their total health and making clear connections to their lives; enhances academic and sport performance, reduces stress, and improves mental, emotional and physical health. Prasad’s ability to challenge their mental boundaries in order for our students to achieve substantial physical improvement within such a short time frame (only 3 days) was amazing.

Thanks to Prasad’s help, we are incorporating yoga on a regular basis into our Physical and Health Education classes and we are excited that he has agreed to return on a yearly basis to our classes.

- Debra Darson
Head of Physical & Health Education Department,
American School of Bombay

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Yoga Journal – Thailand Retreat

I have had the chance to join the retreat in Thailand last week with Prasad. I am practicing Yoga now for 8 years, I met different teachers from all over the world, participated in numerous workshops and retreats as well. A lot of teachers have strong knowledge about body structures and scriptures. But most of them do not have this ability to communicate their true love for Yoga, the true meaning of yoga and spirituality.

To me, some of the great teachers appear to be surgeons who look at you as a disease not a human being. But not Prasad. He is not a fashion Guru Man who only wants to be ‘in’. His focus is on the meaning of Yoga – “It is the steady movement of the individual soul towards the Supreme Soul. Yoga is a steady ascent to the Divine”.

Besides the basic postures, with Prasad you can explore your divine essence, your true love towards yourself. You learn to let go. I enjoyed those 3 days so much – to reconnect with myself, his words were mine, he touched me with his words, his way of teaching, his patience, his true love for each student. As for myself, because of him I am confident with Pranayama I gained understanding.

To have a class with Prasad is exploring behind the Asana, whether you are already a teacher, a yogi or a newcomer. You cannot stay without receiving any self transformation after meeting him. This man is not only gifted but he really loves human beings! Thanks a lot Prasad. I hope to see you again and have the opportunity to join other workshops.

- Christine Balastegui
Participant, Yoga Journal – Thailand Retreat
February 2011

Vashishthasana

Vashishthasana (’side plank posture’), is a powerful arm balance posture. The name is dedicated to the wisest sage of Yoga.

Step-by-step

Start in the adho mukha svanasana (’downward dog’) and lengthen your arms and your legs.
Lower your hips and shift your weight forward to come into the start of push up posture. Keep your feet together and balance the body.Press your weight down through your right hand and forearm.
Roll your body to the right, balancing on the outer edge of your right foot.
Place your left foot on top of your right foot and keep your legs straight.
Extend your left arm towards the sky and look at your left hand by turning your head.
Do not let your hip drop, hold your body in a straight line. Beginners can take support of the left leg by placing the left knee on the floor. Hold for up to 30 seconds.
Exhale as you slowly return to Plank Pose, then into Downward-Facing Dog.
Repeat on the opposite side.
After both sides, rest in child posture.

Benefits

(Note: It is important to ensure you are performing the pose with correct alignment.)
The posture is strengthener of your wrists, forearms, shoulders, and spine.
It works on tight hip area and opens the hips and hamstrings. It helps improve balancing ability and concentration.
It also allows strengthening of abdominals for venturing into advanced arm balance postures.

Yoga Journal – Thailand

“I took Prasad’s class at the Bangkok Yoga festival 2010 and it was a wonderful combination of explanation, practice and exploring the deeper meaning behind a series of basic poses. Even the more experienced delegates seemed delighted to re-explore the connection between each pose and get a deeper understanding of the history of yoga. Less experienced among the group understood that there is so much more to yoga than the physical application.”

- Nigel Oakins
Publisher, Yoga Journal – Thailand

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