Downward Facing Blog

Intensive Yoga Workshops & Retreat
with Director of Yoga Elements Studio
ADRIAN PHILLIP COX (USA)
1 March 2008 to 2 March 2008
RINA Nature & Recreation Resort Johor, Malaysia
Presented by
@ Setia Indah
绿旸轩
Course Facilitator –Adrian Phillip Cox
For more information please see http://www.yogaelements.com/
Introducing Workshops
Workshop 1 : Feet as foundation for energy–Sun Salutations and Standing Postures
In this workshop we are focusing […]

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Get high on your own supply
(or, how to free yourself from the usual mental rut)
Since I blogged a bit about pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, and dhyana, I think it’s time to touch on what samadhi is. I’ll have to divide this post into two or three I can imagine, since it’s a subject that takes […]

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How and where meditation fits inside of the eight limbs of yoga practice
Meditation builds upon the preceding 6 limbs of yoga as a simple, natural state of mind.
 

Adherence to social disciplines (yama)
Following personal discipline (niyama)
Yoga posture (asana)
Yogic breathing (pranayama)
Pulling the mind inwards (pratyahara)
Concentration […]

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How my dog friend taught me to be a better yogi
Without concentration there is no meditation. Without the ability to concentrate yoga simply won’t happen. That doesn’t make concentration some special skill however. Nor is it sacred.
My favorite teacher of concentration is my friend Todd’s dog named Buster. Buster is totally obsessed with food, to […]

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This little blog post may make a huge difference in your yoga practice
(the five levels of the spectrum of prana and why you should know about it)
 
The ancient hatha yoga texts teach that the breath should be made to travel UP the spine as you inhale and DOWN the spine as you […]

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Exploring the connection between Thelema and Yoga
As long as I can remember I’ve been obsessed with religion, occult and mysticism. I’ve hung out with Hare Krishnas, Satanists, Christians, Occultists, and all manner of freaks with varying convictions. Before yoga totally had my full attention, my mystical exploration centered a great deal on the teachings of […]

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Which eye do use when you look at people?  
1. Grab a friend or a lover and sit or lay opposite each other.
2. Practice staring from left eye to left eye (both eyes open)
Have one person send energy and the other receives, then switch.
3. Observe if one person is “stronger” or not. Then switch; using right […]

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Expanding the teachings of the movie “The Secret” through the use of “the Happy Breath” and visualizing

A lot of attention has come on to the subject of manifestation through visualization ala the move “The Secret”. The movie is important viewing as a first step for people to realize the role they play in creating the […]

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Bring the mind home to yourself with the simple, yet often overlooked process of Pratyahara
The fifth aspect of the eight-fold path of yoga, Pratyahara is considered by many great teachers to be the most important of them all. Pratyahara is the yogic technique to stop the outgoing movement of mind and bring it home, […]

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The male’s dark blue body represents “purusha” -the still witness consciousness.
The feminine is “prakriti” - the ever moving, changing material world. The difference between them, spirit and matter creates an attractive polarity which remain in constant “sexual” embrace.
Notice it yourself, you have the aspect of you which is “looking” and then you have what is […]

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