Hello and welcome to your yoga nidra practice.
Today as a part of a meditative journey through the eight limbs of yoga we are going to explore the concept of brahmacharya.
Brahmacharya is the fourth of the Yamas and Patanjali's yoga sutras.
And often in the past it was very much referred to as celibacy but this is really kind of missing the point.
Yes if you're a monk perhaps that might be a way of interpreting it but it's much deeper than that,
It's much more than that.
And the way that we like to interpret and teach it nowadays is about restraint or the correct use of your vital energy.
The correct use of prana.
Using it for a higher purpose rather than wasting it.
Wasting it on distractions,
On arguments,
On the internet,
On images,
Etc.
Living in harmony with one's vitality.
So in this practice we'll be asking,
You'll be asking yourself to go deeper,
Reclaim your vitality and get in touch with the power that resides within you.
Using the energy and your words in a powerful and positive way to create more.
So in all yoga nidra practices we're advised to come to the posture of Shavasana.
And so if you want to do that now that would be,
That would be wonderful.
You can use bolsters or pillows underneath if your tightness is in the hamstring.
Or even on beds if you want to.
Entirely up to you.
However we are looking to not fall asleep.
And stay in that hypogonic state somewhere between wakefulness and sleeping.
And my words are here to guide you to that place.
So find a comfortable spot.
If you're in a cold place make sure you're warm and vice versa.
And you can start this practice by feeling the energy that resides within you.
And feeling and thinking about how you can use that in a positive way.
And how you can hold on to it so that you don't waste it.
So we are going to set our sankalpa.
And the sankalpa,
The sankalpa is a,
Is an affirmation.
Now we're advised to stay with the sankalpa that we've chosen for at least 40 cycles or so.
But that's,
You know,
Up to you.
Sometimes if it's not,
Not really manifest or if it has manifest,
Then,
And you perhaps may have changed then,
That could change too.
So brahmacharya,
Sankalpa for brahmacharya might be,
I'm a powerful person who uses their power and wisdom with restraint.
I use my power with restraint.
I help people when they need it.
These are the sorts of sankalpas that will work here.
Drop into your body.
Feel that energy that resides.
Deeply feeling your power.
Recognize that you do restrain this.
That you do use it wisely.
That you're not distracted by unnecessary things that will sap your energy.
Drop into the power of your body.
Feel the energy within.
Feel it in your toes and those feet that can walk and run.
In the legs that keep you upright and strong.
In the torso that holds all the bandhas.
It keeps you strong and powerful.
In the kundalini energy within you.
In your arms and your biceps.
Your shoulders,
Your chest and your powerful back.
Feel your spine,
The back of your head,
The top of your head and the infinite power that resides within your mind.
Your forehead and your eyes that see the beauty in life.
Your nose that smells all the wonderful scents that are available to us.
The mouth and the tongue.
Just spend a moment with the tongue.
And the mouth.
Feel the slippery wetness within.
Taste the taste.
Notice the sensation between the palms and the cheeks.
The mouth.
Two lips kissing one another.
And the sensation there.
The chin,
The throat,
The hips,
The knees,
The ankles.
All the toes together.
Noticing the sensations between the toes.
Top of the feet.
Both ankles together.
Both knees together.
Both legs.
Both hands.
Both arms.
The body.
The whole body.
Lying in yoga nidra.
Your wonderful body.
Where your soul resides.
Feel the body.
And now,
Come to the breath.
Feel the breath moving in and out of the body.
Belly rise and belly fall.
Belly rise and belly fall.
Take your awareness to the sensation in the nostrils.
Cool air as it comes in.
And the warm air as it leaves.
Recognize the prana attached to the body.
Recognize the prana attached to the breath.
Feel the energy flowing through your body.
Feel how it keeps you alive.
Gives you strength.
Enables you to live.
All that wonderful energy.
Feel it with the breath.
Getting much deeper with the breath.
Much deeper with the breath.
Very deep now.
Connected with your vital energy.
Notice that's what you are.
Pure energy.
Stay connected.
Deeper and deeper now.
Imagine how you feel when you haven't had enough sleep.
Perhaps after a long journey or an airplane.
That feeling when your children have been up all night.
When your energy is drained but you have to keep going.
Using the reserves wisely.
Now imagine how you feel.
Full of energy.
Full of life.
Ready to take on the day.
Full of life.
Imagine being very cold and how you manage to stay warm.
Stay warm when you are very cold.
How the body maintains its temperature.
Using the reserves it has.
Very cold.
Just imagine being cold.
Now take the opposite.
Imagine being very warm.
Beautifully warm and how relaxed you are.
The sun is giving you energy.
You can feel that and be with it.
Beautifully warm.
Take your eyes,
Your physical eyes,
And gently stare at the third eye.
Infinite possibilities.
Infinite possibilities.
Rest in stillness.
Your energy is sacred.
Sitting by a campfire.
Feeling the heat and the flames and the energy from the fire.
Absorbing that.
A bright night with the moonlight.
A sunny day.
A rushing river.
Pure power in the river.
Enough to create canyons when focused.
Sitting by the campfire.
A glow on other people's faces.
Notice these faces are your ancestors.
Your mother,
Your father,
Your grandparent,
And your great-grandparent.
And all those people that support you with their power beyond the grave.
You are here for a purpose.
You are powerful.
You do use it correctly.
You are restrained when you need to be.
You help others when you have to.
You're holding hands with your friends and your family.
Staring into the fire.
Staring into the fire.
A beautiful feeling of bliss.
Pure energy.
Blissful state.
Remain in this state for a few moments.
And we'll just be quiet here for a little while.
In that place,
Reintroduce your sankalpa.
Exactly the same words as you said at the beginning of the practice.
Reintroduce your sankalpa.
Repeat it three times and simply let go.
Just let go.
Become aware of the breath.
And take the control of the breath.
Breathe the body.
Breathe the body.
Gently coming back to this level of consciousness.
Taking some small movements in the fingers and in the toes.
Noticing the energy arising in your body.
You have the power.
You have the control.
Use it in the best way you can.
It's there for you.
And now,
Coming back now.
Coming back now.
All the way back now.
All the way back to here and now.
Now you're welcome to stay in shavasana or you can sit up.
And if you're sitting up,
Just sit nice and tall through the spine and recognize once again that innate power within you.
Bring the hands to prayer.
May we have love in our hearts.
Move the hands to your mouth.
May we have truth in the speech.
Hands to the forehead.
May we have gratitude in the mind.
Prayer back down to the heart center and bow the head.
Namaste.
Thank you yogis for being with me during this practice.
I hope you enjoyed it.
Go gently throughout the world.
Help others when you can.
Use your power wisely and restrain from wasting it.
This practice is over.
Hopefully I will see you or certainly hear you or be with you shortly.
All my love,
Yogi Phoenix
