July 10-24, 2018
Hatha and Yantra Yoga Fusion
Location: Adventure Hostel, Bangkok, Thailand
Main Sanskrit Glossary
- indriyas - 10 sense organs - five of expression or action and five of cognition
- atma - supreme spirit, true self, soul
- shatkriya - purification process
- Prana - life force that sustains all of us (aka chi)
- Pranayama - a yogic breathing exercise designed to extract more prana from the air we breathe (my personal definition)
- Uddiyana Bandha - emptying the lungs and sucking-in the tummy
- Khumbaka - a breath-hold, could be in-breath or out-breath
- Bahya Khumbaka - breathing-in and holding it
- Antara Khumbaka - breathing-out and holding it
- Nadi - energy channel, not physical
- Sushumna Nadi - the main nadi that connects all the chakras, located in the spinal column (think spinal cord but not physical), blue in color
- Ida - major nadi, feminine, on the left side of the Sushumna Nadi, red in color
- Pingala - major nadi, masculine, on the right side of the Sushumna Nadi, white in color
- Chakra - energy hub lined up from tip of the spine to the top of the head. Depending on school of thought, there could be 5 or up to 11 chakras
- Sahasrara Chakra - the main energy hub on top of the head. When prana reaches this level, the mind gets into a state of one-pointedness (meditative bliss? sorry, I'm there yet)
Article Glossary
- Prana - life force that sustains all of us (aka chi)
- Pranayama - a yogic breathing exercise designed to extract more prana from the air we breathe (my personal definition)
- Uddiyana Bandha - emptying the lungs and sucking-in the tummy
- Khumbaka - a breath-hold, could be in-breath or out-breath
- Bahya Khumbaka - breathing-in and holding it
- Antara Khumbaka - breathing-out and holding it
- Nadi - energy channel, not physical
- Sushumna Nadi - the main nadi that connects all the chakras, located in the spinal column (think spinal cord but not physical), blue in color
- Ida - major nadi, feminine, on the left side of the Sushumna Nadi, red in color
- Pingala - major nadi, masculine, on the right side of the Sushumna Nadi, white in color
- Chakra - energy hub lined up from tip of the spine to the top of the head. Depending on school of thought, there could be 5 or up to 11 chakras
- Sahasrara Chakra - the main energy hub on top of the head. When prana reaches this level, the mind gets into a state of one-pointedness (meditative bliss? sorry, I'm there yet)
CAUTION: this is not a do-it-yourself sequence. I'm simply narrating how I'm doing my practice. This is advanced, experimental and unproven - not for every yoga practitioner
Fuzion: Hatha and Yantra Yoga
When I was in Dharamshala, seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile, I talked to Dr. Chok Tenzin Monlam Peltsok, a Tibetan Tantra yogi, about Tibetan yoga or Yantra Yoga. It got me started into researching more about Yantra Yoga. I went to Youtube, got some names, followed links, read some more, etc.
Yantra Yoga
What makes Yantra Yoga distinct from Hatha are the pranayama and the movement (from my limited knowledge and experience). Hatha Yoga can be very physical and reserves kumbhaka for the advanced practitioner. In Yantra, pranayama is more about antara kumbhaka while doing the movement. The Yantra movement is not physically challenging - it's designed not to develop muscles or stamina but to move energy around the body.
L-Sit Surprise
One epiphany was the L-Sit. After doing the Yantra Yoga 5-Root subtle breathing, I attepted to do an L-Sit, which is perhaps the most difficult abdominal yoga asana. I could do the L-Sit but can't hold it for long. When I did the L-Sit after the Yantra Yoga, I lifted my body up effortlessly! It's not because I felt strong. It was because I felt so light! At that point, I knew there was something special to Yantra Yoga that needed more exploration. But because I can't find a Yantra Yoga teacher, it only meant biohacking my body.
Bio-Hacking
Here in Bangkok, given ample time in the morning to deepen my practice, I started practising Yantra Yoga more as a curiosity. But I felt its benefit and began to acquire one Aha! Moment after another on how I can intelligently combine the best of Yantra Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Vipassana Meditation, and freediving techniques. To find out what happens, I executed all of it. To cite an example, take for instance, the Downward Dog.
Downward Dog
- empty my lungs and suck my tummy in Uddiyana Bandha and hold my breath - Bahya Kumbhaka (in Hatha Yoga, you breath while holding this pose)
- keep holding the breath until the panic-attack kicks-in (when you feel like you're dying because you can't breathe)...and then I still continue holding the breath while calmly observing all body sensations (I'm combining freediving and Vipassana here)
- in this position, I also visualize prana converging on a particular chakra, with all its nuances - number of petals, color, etc. I only release the tummy and come up for air when I really cannot hold it anymore.
- upon inhalation, I visualize green prana-filled air into my nose that goes up all the way to the skull and curves down into the red ida nadi and the white pingala nadi until the air reaches the base of the spine (there is controlled breathing in Hatha Yoga, but I haven't come across something with this kind of detailed and vivid visualization)
- on the exhalation, I would visualize the green air at the base of the spine to go into the blue Sushumna Nadi, going all the way up and exiting the top of the head (Sahasrara Chakra)
By the time I'm done with just this Downward Dog, I already feel light-headed and require a few normal breaths to recover. I keep doing that technique on every asana. When the asana opens up the body, I would do an Antara Kumbhaka instead of a Bahya Kumbhaka. By the time I'm done with the entire sequence, I would then do the Yantra Yoga 5-Root subtle yoga. This is followed by the last step, meditation.
Ending Thoughts
The foregoing is intense and I risk frying my nervous system - in theory. But I haven't felt anything negative so far. The above has been my practice almost on a daily basis here in Bangkok.
Verdict? I'm strong and I feel...not sure how to word it...but I feel power simmering within me. But how do I intensify and nurture this? How can I use it in my daily life? It's a feeling I never had with Hatha Yoga alone. I intend to pursue and deepen this practice, following every Aha Moment that presents itself. Let's see where it takes me.
--- TheLoneRider
YOGA by Gigit
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Reader Comments:
DavidCRAZY WORLD OF DAVID
(July 24, 2018) Hi Gigit, I find the above explanations very interesting and i woukd like to be involved, frankly I think you should make contact with Dr Nun Amen Ra, I will forward information regarding his disaplined regime aimed soley at longevity. My email address is dlloyd22@gmail.com I dont find facebook easy to navigate I follow Nuns regime as much as is practically possible at the moment and find the long fasting as easy to adher to and good for energy enhansment. Kind regards David
Next stop:
Yoga with Adam at Hidden House Yoga, Chiang Mai
(July 29, 2018) Hidden House Yoga was the new kid on the block in Chiang Mai after having opened just a year ago. Adam conducted an Evening Yoga Flow that was challenging and well articulated with a slow enough cadence to sink into the pose.....more »»
Bangkok Blogs by TheLoneRider
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- Bangkok for Passport Renewal Mar 17-21, 2021
- Bangkok with $19 Dec 8-11, 2018
- 30 Days - Goodbye Bangkok Nov 8, 2018
- Revolving Peoplescape of Bangkok Oct 8 - Nov 8, 2018
- Food and Friendship at Dalad Vietnamese Oct 8 - Nov 8, 2018
- Movie Review: First Reformed (2017) Nov 6, 2018
- Doing Online Work at The Work Loft Nov 5, 2018
- Window Seat [His Precious] Nov 1, 2018
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- Push-Ups Oct 22/24, 2018
- Pad Thai at Thip Samai, Bangkok Oct 16, 2018
- Birthday Walkabout Oct 16, 2018
- Coming to Terms with Donations Oct 14, 2018
- Feelin' Da Blues at Adhere the 13th Blues Bar Oct 12, 2018
- Visiting the Grand Palace of Thailand Oct 12, 2018
- A Web Mandate in Bangkok Oct 8, 2018
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- Calling the Bangkok Police Sep 23, 2018
- Movie Review: Mindfulness and Murder (2011) Sep 22, 2018
- Yoga Inversions at Now's Fitness Gym Sep 19, 2018
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- Movie Review: Under Construction (2015) Sep 15, 2018
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- Abs Workout with Teacher San at Now's Fitness Sep 13, 2018
- Exercise Ball Workout with Teacher Bie at Now's Fitness Sep 11, 2018
- Exploring the Amphawa Floating Market Sep 9, 2018
- Exploring the Tree-Engulfed Wat Bang Kung Temple Sep 9, 2018
- Parting of the Maeklong Railway Market with a Passing Train Sep 9, 2018
- Exploring Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Sep 9, 2018
- Horse Racing at the The Royal Bangkok Sports Club Sep 8, 2018
- Fight Class with Teacher San at Now's Fitness Sep 7, 2018
- Exploring the Bangkok Art Book Fair 2018 Sep 6, 2018
- Circuit Training with Mild at Now's Fitness Sep 5, 2018
- Gentle Flow Yoga with Nuch at Now's Fitness, Bangkok Sep 4, 2018
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- Peoplescape: Bangkok July 10-24, 2018
- Hatha and Yantra Yoga Fusion July 10-24, 2018
- Revisiting Terminal 21 Mall, Bangkok July 23, 2018
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Bangkok Map
Bangkok, Thailand
1541 Phahonyothin Rd. Payathai
RESTAURANT
195 Soi Pradipat 19, Pradipat Road, Phayathai
SPA / WELLNESS
99/6-9 SHOW DC Retail and Entertainment Mega Complex (4th Floor)
GYM| YOGA
726 Soi On Nut 14 Rd, Khwaeng Suan Luang, Khet Suan Luang, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10250
Useful Information
Bangkok Cost Index
as of Sep 4, 2018: US$1 = Baht 32 = Php 53
- Bht 60 sm, 90 big one mug draft beer
- Bht 13 1.5 liter drinking water
- Bht 220 one hour massage
- Bht 60-80 muesli breakfast
- Bht 60-80 tom yum soup in modest eatery
- Bht 25-30 coffee
- Bht 30-50 pad thai
- Bht 350 Adventure Hostel lodging
- Bht 20-30/load laundry, coin operated machine
- Bht 7 bus ride
Transport Maps of Bangkok
Bangkok to Chiang Mai by Train from Bang Sue Train Station
For more train info: Bangkok to Chiang Mai trains - departing from Hua Lamphong - MRT (Bangkok)
(I'm using Bang Sue as a starting point because I was closer to it, but you may be closer to the Hua Lamphong station)
- take the MRT train to Bang Sue Station. Take the #1 Exit to the north provincial trains
- Proceed to Counter 2. You will see an information booth, a train schedule chart and the ticket counter. Choose the train and pay at the ticket counter.
- daily train schedule:
- 8:48am - #7 Train, arrive Chiang Mai 7:30pm, not sleeper, B638
- 2:06pm - #109 Train, arrive Chiang Mai 4:05am, sleeper
- 6:31pm - #9 Premium Train, arrive Chiang Mai 7:15am, sleeper, B938 upper deck, B1038 lower deck
- 7:56pm - #13 Train, arrive Chiang Mai 8:40am, sleeper, B768 upper deck, B838 lower deck
- 10:22pm - #51 Train, arrive Chiang Mai 12:10pm, sleeper, 3rd class B270 (non sleeper), 2nd class B438, B728 upper deck, B798 lower deck
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