April 2025: Happiness
Nauli
Nauli is foremost of the hatha yoga practices. It kindles the digestive fire, removing indigestion, sluggish digestion, and all disorders of the doshas, and brings about happiness. - HYP 2.34
Nauli is the most incredible practice. It’s fun. It’s different. It’s do-able. It’s transforming. It’s therapeutic. It’s exhilarating. It’s a little daunting. It’s purifying. It’s cosmetic. It’s empowering. It’s literally uplifting. And it’s a cool thing to thing to show off - like, to the world. (who knows maybe if you post a video of you doing it, we’ll give a month of free yoga - which is not the reason to do that. The only good reason to show it off is to inspire someone else, you beautiful being).
All month long, with the foundation of the previous 3 months of Uddiyana Bandha & Agni Sara, we will get into Nauli. Which is to say, you will get to intimately know, move, and massage your gut - the muscles, the organs, the glands - the intuition.
There is a reason the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (which only is the definitive ancient source authority on the physical efficacy of yoga) places Nauli at the top. Don’t you want to get the most value of your efforts? Don’t you want to experience the magic of transformation from the inside out? Don’t you want to have first hand knowledge of how explosive yoga really is? Don’t you want to fly? yes, Yes, YES, YESSSSS! It’s so satisfying to learn and realize when something is truly the best. It changes everything in your life.
So here’s what you do: Be enthusiastic. Be adventurous. Be Receptive. Be a beginner. Show up to class and show up often. Like everyday. Don’t eat at least one hour (three is better) before class. It’s good to wear something where you can see your midriff while you practice, no one’s watching. Baggy clothes in yoga are never great anyway. Practice in the morning, on your own with a mirror. You can put one on the floor or any position that helps you see. Not all of us can look down and see our belly’s - and some of us will pass altogether on this whole month if it means looking down at the monster that is our abdomen. That would be a missed opportunity to really love yourself, though. You are so lovable, and nauli will help you realize it.
This is what this practice is about. Love. Love who you are, where you are, what you are. Unconditionally. And at the end of the month (Saturday May 3rd, to be exact) join us for a complete Shat Karma Kriya workshop - where you can get individual attention and assistance to fine tune nauli, and learn, try out the other purifications that have been practiced and true for centuries - so cool! Sutra neti, anyone?
In Yoga we dwell,
Jeffrey
April 2025