CO YOGA + Life® | Summer + Fall 2023

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YOGA + FITNESS / In The Practice

PRINCIPLES OF

derstanding the mystery” through wedding both compelling Western gains and compassionate Eastern insights. Before outlining the principles of prana, it’s helpful to describe this term which can often feel abstract and elusive. Prana itself is indescribable, which is why embodiment practices are the most effective in emphasizing its impact on the system. However, analytically, we can feel into the vibrational body and the subtle realms. Prana is vibrational energy. In Sanskrit, pra means with, while na means movement. It’s the galvanizing of foundational awareness as it moves through the subtle body systems. Breath is not prana but merely a vehicle to move prana. We often conflate the two, but in actuality, prana follows the breath. The two are strong allies.

Prana

Y

oga, as a contemplative science, can be thought of as a laboratory — a space for experimenting with and experiencing the vividness of life, experimentation with the formless dimensions of prana. Deep research into the realms of the subtle body. These energetic constructs are not esoteric; in fact, they are accessible technologies to understand and refine the mindful mechanics of the way the life force is balanced and distributed through the nervous system. It’s been said that this era of practice in the industry of yoga, and the potential awareness and insights that are available,

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is unlike any other time on the planet. As yogis, I really feel we chose to be positioned here and now as practitioners in a collective awakening. As a species, we are at the precipice of groundbreaking, evidence-based research in mindfulness and neurological function (in fact, they called 2010 to 2020 the decade of the brain for all the advancements we made in understanding cognitive development), coupled with thousands of years of introspective and contemplative practice under our collective belt as meditators, practitioners and insight seekers. This means we are at the frontier of “un-

YOGA CIRCULATES PRANA There are specific pathways of pranic circulation called meridians, or nadis, the streams/channels for prana’s path to flow, translated as “little rivers.” Looking close up at a leaf, or the blood vessels of a human or the river networks on Earth, we can see clearly these natural processes all established the same mode of carrying energy, water, prana, blood flow, life force — whatever is essential — through. We use asana to stimulate this circulation. In yin yoga specifically, we hold each shape, practicing stillness to observe the flow of prana through tissues, the inner circulation and inner dialogue of the organs and the streams which nourish those organs. These meridians run through the fascia, or connective tissue, which covers the musculo-skeletal system. As our objective

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THE 3 IMMEASURABLES OF PRANA Yoga and prana interact with one another; there are specific ways in which the practice of yoga movements, or asana, relates to our pranic patterns. I call these “the three immeasurables,” because the more you harness this relationship, the more infinite its activity and benefits, a boundless depth of practice life. In short, there are three ways yoga asana stimulates qi, or the movement of prana.


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thrive

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pages 74-75

YOGA + L ife ® ambassadors

8min
pages 70-73

Embrace the Magic of the Full Moon

10min
pages 66-69

Recipes to Help You Thrive From Farow in Niwot

2min
pages 63-65

The Spirit of the Horse Inspiration from the Equine

3min
page 62

Menstruation, Motherhood + Menopause

4min
pages 60-61

Are You in Flow State?

3min
pages 58-59

Advocate for Your Pelvic Health

4min
pages 56-57

LIGHTWORKER UV Fitness & Yoga Mat Sanitizer

2min
page 55

Dharma Parenting Raising Happy + Successful Children

3min
page 54

Orient Land Trust Protecting + Preserving in the San Luis Valley

4min
pages 51-53

RECLAIM YOUR POWER WITH Ecotherapy

3min
page 50

Lessons from the Black Canyon

2min
pages 48-49

Veterans Yoga Project Serving Those Who Have Served

3min
pages 46-47

Yoga Retreat Experience

4min
pages 44-45

Manifesting Your Dream Life

3min
pages 42-44

PRINCIPLES OF Prana

3min
pages 40-42

THRIVING WITH chair-based yoga

3min
pages 38-39

EXPAND YOUR SENSES AT DRISHTI BEATS FESTIVAL 2023

5min
pages 35-37

THE SPA AT The Brown Palace

1min
page 34

DESTINATION WELLNESS: Rancho La Puerta

3min
page 33

Euro Lodge + Leisure Scene

2min
pages 30-32

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT SPROUTS IN Colorado’s San Luis Valley

3min
page 29

REGENESIS PLASTIC SURGERY, DERMATOLOGY & SPA

2min
pages 27-28

From Grassroots to Mountaintops Localized Food Systems Create Solutions

6min
pages 24-26

Ritual Healing

2min
page 23

The Night Gardener A Story of Renewal from The Fan Brothers

5min
pages 21-23

CHANGING THE MIND THROUGH PSYCHEDELIC HEALING

12min
pages 16-21

JERE FRIEDMAN

3min
page 14

KELSEY STOLL

3min
pages 12-13

meet the team

2min
pages 10-11

Q + A

1min
pages 8-9

DEAR READERS,

1min
page 5
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