 |
| By Jon Sullivan [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons |
Aaaah... Chanting.
We're getting to that point in training where the deeper practices of chanting, pranayama, and meditation are at the fore. I'm working with a client who has rheumatoid arthritis, and the practice I'm suggesting has chanting in it to activate the deepest inner alchemy - the relationship between prana, ojas, and tejas. It is a deep practice, and the client is receptive to working this deeply, which is a true blessing.
Prana is energy. Ojas is that which provisions the energetic flow of prana. Tejas is the intelligent use of ojas-fueled prana - like the way we metabolize (insert anything here - food, experience, feelings, etc.) There is much more to this discussion that I will leave for another day.
The resistance to chanting is something I'm very familiar with. I was not chanting but knew I "should" be before I started to work with this client. Working on her practice and reviewing my notes from training awoke an interest in me. I'm familiar with the teachings governing this inner alchemy, but my student is just learning, with much less formal training. We will see, with interest and awareness, whether it clicks for her and nourishes her? Or whether it will be adjusted and fine-tuned to meet her needs more fully.
Chanting can be quite challenging as you have to hear your own voice reaching out into space. It's easier to do in a group than on your own. It's much more vulnerable when you chant in your own silent space. Mental chanting is a way to ease into full chanting. Full voiced chanting, whether loud or soft, high or low in pitch, creates tremendous energetic effects. In my experience, it short circuits the mind-body duality we seem to live with so much of the time as we move through "real life" off the mat.
These energetic forces governing deep inner alchemy of physiological processes are well suited for chanting when dealing with a physiological condition. In fact, I was so drawn to this "inner alchemy" that I have adopted this chanting myself. I'm self-treating for nervous system condition of bells palsy. In the lines with more than one syllable, the second to last syllable is a raised pitch, then back to the starting pitch.
OmI have added this to my personal practice before my pranayama, which is an alternate nostril and krama practice given to me by my teacher.
Om Ojosi
Om Nourish Me
Om
Om Pranosi
Om Enliven Me
Om
Om Tejosi
Om Enlighten Me
At the end of my pranayama, I repeat the chanting, low and quiet, and add nyasa (gesture).
Om hands to eyes
Om Ojosi hands to heart
Om Nourish Me hands to belly
Om hands to eyes
Om Pranosi hands to heart
Om Enliven Me hands to belly
Om hands to eyes
Om Tejosi hands to heart
Om Enlighten Me hands to belly
I drop into a beautiful meditative space. It feels wonderful to inhabit my body and take care towards healing every morning.
I have adopted the chanting, but will the client? Her most recent email to me:
Just printed this practice & we'll see if I chant this week!
Aaaah... chanting. You bring out the emotions in us!
No comments:
Post a Comment