Agni Flow
I was never really fond of toys as a kid. I hated dolls in particular. I preferred coloring kits and cubes that I could arrange in any pattern I wanted. I did have a couple of stuffed animals I cuddled in bed, but my true fascination was for an elaborate phoenix carved out of mahogany that my dad brought from China. I would stare at the carving for hours, marveling the powerful grace of this mythical bird, bewildered by its ability to regenerate from the ashes.
Ever since, this metaphor has infiltrated into my life and art, reminding me of the power of transformation and the quality of the fire element to re-enkindle creativity from challenges and set-backs. The phoenix, a derivative of the dragon family generates “heat” in our lives – creating opportunities for renewal and re-growth. It often provokes perspective shifts and indicates the need for purging and re-birth. Seldom, the “heat” that is generated creates friction, resistance, union through opposition, a vibration that eliminates procrastination and doubt in decision-making and prepares us for immediate action. In order to pursue our goals, to stay in mental and physical shape and to optimize our creative potential we need the spark of “agni.”
In the “AtharvaVeda”, an ancient yogic script this spark is associated with Lord Agni – the God of fire, the messenger of the gods, the acceptor of sacrifice. Agni is in everyone’s hearth; he is the vital spark of life, and so a part of him is in all living things; he is the fire which consumes food in peoples’ stomachs, as well as the element that transmits the offerings to the gods. He is the fire of the sun, in the lightning bolt, and in the smoke column which holds up the heavens. The stars are sparks from his flame. Agni is also the bearer of knowledge who challenges our preconceptions and drives us to sacrifice our limitations in the blaze of knowledge. In ancient India the glowing Agni was appeased through “agnihotra,” a devotional healing offering that purges and purifies both the individual and his world. Today the ritual of fire has become tantamount with “purification” and “clearing” stale energy and outdated beliefs.
The fleeting year of the Dragon brought about sweeping changes across the globe, transmuting our linear thinking in the cauldron of “uncertainization” and possibility. The key was to release restricting and outdated thought-forms that no longer served our higher purpose. As we made unconventional moves, drafted new projects, and dared to violate the regimens of the comfort zone we welcomed unpredictability as an incentive for transformation and rebirth. It is vital to keep the fire of momentum generated in the Dragon year as we cultivate both patience and determination in the approaching year of the Snake. The switch denotes a shifting from the instant fire of action, to the gestating fire of preservation and maintenance. Yes, we will need to keep up our practice, maintain a healthy life style and trim the fat from our saturated agendas and over-taxed bodies. In this way we will spark the energy of self-recovery and regeneration –like a phoenix blazing from the ashes…
Fat-Burning Yogea Routine Agni Flow (advanced Level)
This fat-burning Yogea routine is especially intended for advanced practitioners. Standing, twisting, forward & back-bending, and arm-balancing poses alternate in a fast-paced flow to channel life force through the body. The poses are sequenced to culminate into arm-balancing twists and nurturing hip openers that allow transformation and renewal. The sequence builds strength, resilience and a solid center. It tones all muscle groups focusing on the core and cultivating stability and a sense of balance. As the poses progress gradually from simpler to more complex, the glandular system gets a boost and the life-sustaining organs purify and regenerate functionality and flow. The flow honors all four directions and hones the quality of coordination, spatial placement and kinetic recall. The postural alignment is improved through isometric and isotonic contractions and the tendons and ligaments are maintained through resistance stretching. The routine creates a sense of anchoring and steadiness that allows practitioners to keep both physically and mentally fit.
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