Introducing Agni to Your Yoga Class

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed

What is agni and how is it related to Yoga? “Agni” is a Sanskrit term that means fire. It also refers to the Hindu God, Agni, who is one of the most important of all Hindu deities. In fact, Agni is actually the very first word of the first hymn of the ancient Indian scripture, the Rig Veda. This is one of the foundational texts of Yogic philosophy. Agni is said to be the messenger and transporter, if you will, of the sacrifices of human beings made to the Gods and Goddesses, particularly during fire ceremonies. He is the very essence and fire that enlivens and imbues the sacrifices we make with power, energy and “shakti.”

As Yoga practitioners and instructors, the term “agni” is loosely used to refer to a really challenging sequence of Yoga asanas that leave you drenched in sweat! A Yoga class that has a lot of agni or fire will leave you not only drenched in sweat, but also light, invigorated and sattvic. The Sanskrit term “sattvic” refers to one of the three underlying qualities of energy of all material existence known as the gunas. According to Hindu belief, it is said that the energetic field of possibility, known in Quantum Physics as the Zero Point Field, has no qualities prior to solidifying into physical existence. When the energy of Brahman, God or the Great Void manifests on the material plane, each object is comprised of various energetic qualities or gunas. These gunas are tamas, rajas and sattva. 

Tamas refers to the qualities of denseness, heaviness and inertia. Rajas refers to the qualities of fire, movement and energy; the quintessential elements of agni. The sattvic guna is illuminated with lightness, purity and goodness. Tamas is often experienced as low energy, lack of motivation, heaviness, tension, and even depression. Many Yoga students and teachers begin practicing Yoga in order to lighten and enliven their bodies and minds. This lightening or release of darkness and inertia is accomplished by stoking the inner fire or agni through a regular, challenging practice of Yoga poses, breathing exercises and meditation techniques. 

These ancient Yogic practices help to infuse the body and mind with clarity and expansive well-being. One of the most effective ways of moving from a state of inertia and heaviness towards a light, sattvic state, is by increasing the transforming energy of agni within our own beings. Yoga asanas that are strung together through the breath in a continuous dance-like flow are sure to dislodge tamas and increase agni through the energy and movement of the rajasic dosha. By engaging in a regular Yoga practice or teaching a challenging Yoga class that is filled with movement and heat, you will be offering your students the experience of a sattvic state, filled with lightness, peace and purity. 

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The Yogic Mindset for Healthy Sleeping

By Sanjeev Patel, CYT 500

Sometimes, you have an issue that comes into your life and it's going to keep you awake, no matter how tired you are. My personal suggestion: practice yoga asanas and stop watching the news before you go to bed. The last time I watched the news before bedtime, I had the urge to throw my popcorn at the television. 

Now, Seriously Folks...

Getting a good sleep at night can be difficult for some people, and gentle or restorative yoga poses, can help alleviate insomnia. Through meditation and breathing exercises, yogic methods help in reducing stress and anxiety so you can relax more easily. If you have trouble sleeping, then yoga nidra, a deep relaxation technique, is something that you should try.

In yoga, there is really no single asana that can guarantee instant slumber. However, having a yogic mindset, in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, is an effective sleep aide. With that said, incorporating asanas into your daily routine, can help you achieve a healthy sleep. It does not have to be intense, and it can be as simple as incorporating pranayama at work. It is also important to stretch your entire body during the day to release built up tension. This will help you to think more kindly thoughts about your boss. Having a yogic mindset means focusing on the present moment, while releasing the worries of the past and future. This can be learned by concentrating on your breathing, while performing covert asanas in your office.

Incorporating Yoga Before Bedtime

Professionals, who study sleeping and insomnia, believe that creating and sticking to bedtime rituals, signals your body to prepare for sleep. Including a few pranayama exercises, and easy asanas, are great ways to establish this routine. Yogic breathing exercises, and light stretching, will promote relaxation to get you ready for bedtime.

Some yogic methods that can be included into your bedtime routine are those that involve lying down on your bed. The ananda balasana (happy baby pose) is basically placing your feet up in the air with your knees bent. This helps in aligning and relieving tension within the lower back, while stretching the hamstrings. A great asana is viparita karani (legs up on the wall pose), which is lying down on your back while resting your legs up on a wall. This pose is not only gentle, but it also provides all the benefits of mild inversion. Another pose to try for bedtime is supta baddha konasana (supine bound angle pose). In this pose, you are lying flat on your back, while your legs are in a bound angle pose. 

Dirgha Pranayama

For night time breathing exercises, you can try dirgha pranayama (three-part breath). The three-part breath is a method to be used - especially when you have had a long and stressful day. It teaches you to focus on your breathing and clears your mind of the day’s stress triggers.

By having a yogic mindset, of focusing on the present moment and releasing the worries of the past and future, you can have a healthier sleeping pattern, and you'll never have to clean butter and popcorn off your television screen.

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