“So the darkness shall be the light and the stillness dancing.”
– T.S.Eliot
Weekly Focus: Agni (consuming darkness)
Agni means “fire” in Sanskrit. Agni represents the spark of life and energy within all people. This energy brings creation and destruction — burning away darkness and shining light within.
In Hinduism, Agni is the god of fire, sacrifice and divine knowledge. Agni is one of the primary Vedic gods. It is said that each one of us contains Agni within us — a vital, transformative energy. Agni is a fiery energy, a deep passion that drives us towards change on all levels — physical, mental and especially spiritual.
Like fire, Agni has the power to destroy and create anew, to help us rise from the ashes transformed, awakened and evolved. Throughout the time of man, fire has been used as a guiding light and space of safety; cutting through the darkness and warming through the cold. We turn to Agni this week as a reminder to find our inner fire, to consume our darkness and find the new dawn of our Self on the other side.
The deep passion of Agni beckons us to be dedicated and consistent in our effort towards contentment and deeper spirituality. Like continually stoking the fire and adding fuel, transformative change is a process that requires energy and time.
Fire is a power to wield. We can use our fire to choose what we want to burn away (darkness: false narratives, limiting beliefs, worries) and what we want to illuminate (opportunities: self love, compassion, gratitude). But like any great power, fire must be managed with caution and care. Burn too hot and you may find yourself wearing thin or fixating on expectation and accomplishment. We must keep our fire to a steady flame — a balanced, constant spark of energy.
How do we stoke our inner fire? Yoga provides the tools! Inner fire is not the same as physical heat. Rather, self reflection / recognition, self study and conscious awareness deepen our levels of Agni.
Passive Pose of the Week: Supta Baddha Konasana (reclined bound angle)
Supta Baddha Konasana is an open and airy posture, receptive and inviting in energy. We open the lungs and invite in prana and oxygen to fuel our inner Agni.
- Begin lying on the floor on your back.
- Slide your feet in and end the knees with the feet on the floor.
- Open your legs like a book, letting the knees fall away and the soles of the feet press together.
- Arms can go anywhere that feels comfortable.
- Hold for 7 – 10 breaths before slowing coming out.
This should be a pose where we can find a comfortable place to rest and breathe free of physical distraction in the body. To help find that position, support the body with props. One of the most helpful places to support is behind the back of the knees or thighs. Sliding yoga blocks or folded blankets behind the legs signals to the legs that it is OK to relax, letting the muscles soften and release. To further support this release, you can weight the thighs with sandbags (if they are accessible) or light weight such as a heavy blanket lying on top. Let yourself enjoy the pose! Building fire is not about suffering. Enjoy your fire from a relaxed, contemplative space.
Active Pose of the Week: Namaskar Parsvakonasana (prayer twist lunge)
Namaskar Parsvakonasana is a deep rotation and twist, metaphorically stoking the inner space of Agni deep within us.
- Begin in a standing Mountain pose (tadasana).
- Step your left foot back about 3 – 4 feet into a high lunge position.
- Bring your hands together in Anjali mudra (prayer), pressing the palms together.
- Turn towards your front, right leg, twisting.
- Lean forward and rest your left elbow on top of the right knee.
- Hold for 3 – 5 breaths before switching sides.
Prayer twist lunge is both a twist and a hinge. For some, holding hands in prayer may feel cramped and uncomfortable. If you experience this, a nice alternative can be to adjust the position of your hands. Rather than holding the hands in prayer, try bringing the right hand to your hip and the left hand just outside the knee. You can still find a slight lean hinge forward but this will allow more space to breathe and rotate in the pose.
Join us in class this week to practice your self-reflection and acknowledgment of the Kleshas. See the full schedule HERE.
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