COURTNEY ROHAN YOGA

What is the way to the self? This path appears so often muffled with rubbish. In this dream-life, between space and time, between breaths, how do you decide the options that are best to grow you where you want to go? Not unlike a flower, how do we lean toward the sun? Do we follow the voice in our heads or the voice in our hearts? Do we follow one voice one minute and then in the next the other, moving between the two alternately? It is most important, I have read and believe, that all the options in each moment leave us inclined to listen to the heart and head and yield to the one that makes us most like ourselves. The choice to not or to do, however, does not define us but rather, refine us. It is in the culmination of our life choices, the seemingly good and bad choices, that we glimpse, in our responses and reactions, how each situation changes us. And in that, is there ever a good or bad choice? These are not new revelations or questions, I know. These are the thoughts of many,

It is not easy to share a truth or to see it, especially when someone else is sharing what they see in us. Yet, when we see a truth in someone else, it is evident. It is a bag of bad apples seen from all the way across the grocery store. However, as soon as you open to the truth in life, in others, and see their faults, you must be ready for others’ scrutiny as well. In most recent years, to scrutinize/ to be scrutinized implies a negative interpretation. However, this is the call of true change. To let one know what is seen, when conscious and walking in grace and compassion, and then allowing someone to share the same. Truthfully, we can not change alone. We were not designed to see the full spectrum of ourselves clear enough to change in this way. Though it would be nice to have people present truths in “nice” ways, “haters”, to use young vernacular, are just as helpful. We must be able to look into someone else’s eyes and words and see what we are unable to see in our own mir

This Pranayama is explained in three short videos (poor editing on my behalf). Watch all three-- each one is no more than a couple minutes, and learn a new breathing technique accompanied with movement to sweep the stale energy out of your temple and bring fresh prana (vital energy) in. In the 3rd video, my hands move out of the video. Just so you are clear about what my hands are doing, I will give some explanation. Begin with your hands at your heart, (Anjali mudra), bring your hands up together through the midline on your inhale. Bring your hands down to your sides on your exhale. Inhale them back up above your head, inhale. Here, interlace your fingers without letting your palms touch, so opening your palms toward the floor, exhale as you press the prana gathered in. Straighten your arm at the bottom of your exhale and with fingers still interlaced, press your palm away from you. Sweep out all stale energy (apana) on your inhale. Release your fingers above your head and exhale

I antar kumbaka (1) with breath out American Style But as smooth as I can Muster in inhale in Breath and hands Of movement ethereal I lift aura Find I glow Fill God presence That throws red and white Flowers into me Touch my face and melt I exhale Antar Kumbaka A vision of walking on ground Of gray sponge Walk Strong Spring up to a firm Destiny ahead Through Antar Kumbaka Connections to the Ultimate Reality others would never underst -and And I have no need to justify It is mine Breath Natural I am  bright yellow and red I see me full to the temple Edges My eyes are closed But the scene viveka (1) My hands move through the dark Through mudra Not because I feel them I see bone of left arm Muscle Flat lines of spectrum color I draw across my eyelids With my palm sweep I step out I radiate To tears joy and back Proud. 1. Sanskrit phrase for pauses between the breaths. Many pranayama exercises emphasis the space between breath as where we meet G