Agni Namaskar

Namaste. Namaskaram. So welcome to this practice of Agni Namaskar. This practice shown to be by my teacher Shiva Ray. Very beautiful and very powerful, powerful practice. I often do this practice in times of change, in times where you need to really ignite the fire, ignite the energy. So today as we come into this practice, we're going to be using very things that are very sacred. And I know that some of you, this may seem like a very different sort of yoga practice, but we're going to be doing a full 108 prostrations. There are 108 prayers in the mala. And so I like to use my mala as a reminder. This one is Tiger's Eye and I love it because it was actually given to me by my teacher. And if you have anything very sacred, something that's dear to your heart, placing it at the top of the mat so you can see it each time. We're also going to be finding a pen and a piece of paper. And we're going to take a moment before we get into the moving part of the practice and just writing your intention. And so doing this as a part of the practice and as we come into it, each time we come into this prostration, each time we come to the earth, each time we come down, you're seeing your intention and whether your intention and I like to write what you're either igniting from within, what you need to change and transform because fire is about transformation or what you're awakening, right? The fire can awaken a great life force or awaken things within you. So take a moment, got a big red marker so I can see it each time. And it's very beautiful that it's something you see and each time you come to it as a prayer. So whether you're awakening or igniting, it's up to you and just write, I am an awakened what it is or wait, what you're igniting. I am awakening. And have this here, right? And setting it at the top of your magic and place it slightly under so it doesn't blow away or go away. And this time you can see it every single time. And so as you place it, your intention, your mantra. And for me, one of the things that as we feel a shift and as I feel the change in my life, I'm always coming back to the life force. And I wrote down for myself as this practice is that I am awakening the life force, the prana shakti, great life force that connects us to all things, all beings. And whatever your intention is, place it there so you can see it each time. So a few things as we go over this, this practice, as we start to get started, because once we're in the flow, we're in the flow and this practice very clear, very concise, right? Fire is something you don't mess around with and living out in California, we all know that don't mess with the fire, right? Because it can get out of hand very fast. And so you really have to be with intention, with mantra. And like I said, we'll be doing 108 prostrations. That translates for those of you who are like, I don't know what that is. We're going to be doing 108 pushups, right? So as you come into this and some of you are like, I haven't done a pushup in a long time. Don't worry. Be doing nine sets of 12. It'll be the whole practice and you'll feel very spacious yet very grounded. And so there's a big challenge that you're going to face. And I know halfway through, you're going to feel, I can't do this, but you can, right? Everything in life, you can move through it with intention, with mantra, with prayer. So for my friends, for those of you, some of you may have wrist issues and I want you each time as we come into them, if you have wrist issues, you come onto your knees, bring your hands here at your center and you keep this dunda flowing up and down and you'll do the 12 here. For those of you, some of you will be coming knees down, right? And it's okay to honor using your knees, right? Fingertips slightly in, hands a little wider, gaze out and you come down, whether it's all the way or halfway, right? You choose. And then those of you who feel you need to really ignite that fire and you're strong and you're ready, hands slightly in, elbows out, and you'll feel that dunda here. Okay? So we'll be doing that. And once we complete, you'll come into anahatasana and it's a beautiful counter and then we'll flow through. So just a little heads up where we're going. Are you ready? See, I know you're ready. You can handle it, right? So come seated and let the eyes soften, bringing your hands to the heart as you interlace your fingers and let the thumb and the index finger point up here at the heart. Vira mudra, Vira being the warrior, a powerful life force, right? You're making this claim, this stance, I am awakening, I am igniting. What is it? What is calling into your life here? What do you need to awaken? What do you need to release? What is it you're offering to the fire, the fire of transformation? So let the hands rise up, feel that sacred line of the shishunanadi lifting to the heavens and from the heavens coming out in front of you. Hands stay interlaced, circling down to the earth and drawing up to the heart where the fingertips turn, point up and then rising to the heavens. See that lifting up and heaven expanding out in front of you, down to the earth. And this time with the sound of om, let it rise in breath lift. Om. As you draw hands to prayer at the heart and just pause.

Softly now, allowing your eyes to open. See, come on to all fours coming here into table and as you inhale, drop the belly, lifting the head. And as you exhale, tuck the chin rounding the spine. Two more. Inhale, drop the belly, lifting the head. And as you exhale, tuck the chin, rounding the spine. Drop the belly, lift the head, walk the hands out. Coming in first, anahatasana. So just letting this be a little counter, a little awakening, place for the shoulders, letting the body slide forward onto the belly. Hands by the ribs, tent the fingers, feel the heart rising to bhujangasana. And exhaling down. So we'll see this wave throughout. Press and rise into up dog or cobra, lift high or low. And then drawing it back into down dog. Just breathing a moment here. Take a big inhale, open the mouth, let it out. And take your time as you walk your feet forward to the top of the mat. Take a few steps, take it easy. Let's practice like you said, very fiery, very powerful. So being mindful, be grounded, be rooted into the earth. Take hold of opposite elbows. Let yourself hang. Just release the arms, soften the knees and gently roll the body up. So as you come to the top of the mat and again, bringing your hands into the heart, interlace your fingers, thumb and index pointing up and out. And see that rising right from the soles of the feet, from padabhandha, lifting up. What is your intention? What are you awakening? What are you transforming in your life as you inhale? Lift up to the heavens. Let the hands extend out in front and just circle it down. Two more. Feel it rising. Let it end, radiate out. This time as we lift up, lift to the sun, open it out, expand fully and fold, uttanasana. Feel the spine as it lengthens halfway. And as you exhale, fold, plant in your hands and we'll begin right in this namaskar. It's the whole practice today. Step the right foot back, step your left foot back to meet. Hands turn slightly in and again, I'll start off nice and easy for those here. And some of you knee to the whole practice, knees down. So I'm not going to count them. You count them 12, 12. And as you come up, whether you're going fast or slow, back the hips up, walk the hands out and we'll pause. Breathing in, anahatasana. Bow your heart to the earth. Bow into the divine life force. Letting yourself slide forward onto the belly. Hands will interlace behind you and see your mantra, see your intention, interlace your fingers, press the tops of the feet down and then feel the body, heart rising, coming up. Soften to the earth and take two more, just like that. Feel yourself rising, lifting and soften. Take one more and releasing down. Hands by the ribs, pressing and rise up dog or cobra lift high or low. Let the heart shine and then drawing back into down dog as the feet come together. Right leg inhale, let it rise to the sky. Step the right foot forward between your hands. Now ground the left heel, Virra one foot pattern, sweep out, rise up and take that Virra mudra, lifting to the sun, reach up, hands come out and here see your intention, see your mantra clearly and look to the future, focusing on it. Hands coming down, let it rise up, lift to the sun and then see that intention clear, moving towards it through this practice, clearing the challenges away. Let it come down through this cycle, offering it out. And as you rise up, lift up, coming down to the earth, stepping back, next cycle of 12. So again, knees down if you need, tuck the table, lengthen out, try not to just drop the head, see your intention 12, one, pausing, backing up and as you're ready, you coming in, Anna Hatasana. We'll be there together, feeling this fire, awakening that great current. As you're ready, sliding forward onto the belly, hands interlaced, press the tops of the feet down and lifting the heart and then softly coming to the earth. Two more, inhale, lifting and soften and one more, feel it rise and release. Hands by the ribs, press and rise, up dog or cobra, lift high or low and drawing it back into down dog, feet together, left leg, feel it rise as you inhale, exhale, stepping through back here, grounding root through the soles of the feet, rise up, take Viramudra, lifting and then hands coming out in front, circle it down, feel the breath, hear your intention, right? If you're doing this alone in your house or wherever you may be, say the intention out loud each time, I am igniting, I am awakening, call it in. So we're not just doing push-ups for doing push-ups, we are doing it to awaken the fire, awaken that great life force and coming down to the earth, stepping back. Again, you may now be feeling nice and awaken your set of 12, this is the first full round. And if you need to, knees down any time, right? So just going to show you them in both variations with knees down or straight legs, and as you finish on a hot tasana. So the beauty of the counter pose, really to let yourself let go. I mean all that great awakening now offered to the earth, sliding forward. This time is the hands in a lace, lift the feet, lift the arms, lift the shoulders, everything rising up. And then softly coming down, hands either in prayer or make a pillow, and just rest to the earth, just a moment. So the first cycle, feeling that power within you, a great fire awakened, hands coming back by your ribs, by your side, press up dog or cobra, lift high or low, and drawing back into down dog.

Feet together, right leg, let it rise, step the right foot forward, bring your left foot up to meet it, and fold. Now interlace the fingers behind your back, taking that viramudra behind you, bend the knees, sit deep, but then shine the heart up, palms together. Keep the hands in a lace as you exhale forward. Keeping that powerful connection to the soles of the feet through that mudra in the hands. Inhale, ukatasana variation, and exhale, fold. One more cycle, bend the knees and now sweep your arms by your side, rise up, look up, and fold, uttanasana. Inhale halfway, and exhale, fold. Step the left foot back, step the right hands, turn slightly in, so there are no chaturangas, but a lot of prostrations. So again, knees down, straight legs, 12, 11, and see that intention, yeah, it's always the last ones, always the hardest, right? As you're moving that fire, you're awakening. We'll come into anahatasana, heart towards the earth. Just pause. Maybe you need to rest onto the forehead, breathing here, maybe you're still doing them. Take your time doing each one, each prostration, and it's a prayer, it's an offering. And sliding forward, come on to the belly now this time, bend your right knee, and we'll counter by taking half bow. So both hands to the right foot, kicking and feel yourself. Inhale, rise. And then exhale, take two more. Inhale, lift, and exhale. One more. And then release. Hands by your side, press cobra or up dog, lift high or low. And drawing it back into down dog. Feet together, right leg, inhale, let it rise. Exhale as you step through. Heel grounds, Vira one, lift up, into Vira mudra. And then another three cycle, see that intention, right? What are you igniting? What is awakening? And each time we cycle through these, you're feeling that burn, that fire deep within you. A great life force awakened. Third cycle, lift to the sun, lift to the heavens, reach up, and then heaven to earth. Step it back. Yep. And again, here we are another set. Each time, right? Each prayer, knees down, straight legs, first set 12, 11, counting them either within or saying them with intention. And each time, seeing that prayer, right? What is your igniting? What's awakening? And tomorrow you might feel this. It's okay. You know, you've done a deep practice, a great practice. Letting the heart just bow as we come into anahatasana and just pause. So let the body slide forward, bend the left knee, interlace the fingers, taking hold of your left foot, half bow pose, kick the foot, inhale, right, and exhale, soften. Feel the heart lifting and soften. Once again, hands by your ribs, press and rise, up dog or cobra, and drawing it back into down dog, feet together, left leg, inhale to the sky, step the left foot forward, right heel down, Vira 1 with Vira Mudra. And again, this cycle pulling through the center. Today in your life, where is it that you're awakening? What is it you're igniting? Where are you feeling that change, the fire that you're sending forth, right? So how does this look in your life? How does it translate? Reaching up, lift to the heavens, heaven to earth, step back, again, another 12. Here we go, and hands slightly in and again, knees down, legs, power.

And this one's usually always the hardest in the middle cycle, right? It's like, woo, how many more? But we are in the middle, very end of the middle way. Just letting the heart bow. You can do it. I know you can. And just when you feel like you want to give up, push forward, push through, and feel that power within you. And slide forward, come into the belly, and bending both knees, hands reaching back, kick the feet in and feel the heart rising. And softly, yay, let it go. Hands make a pillow or in prayer, and just bowing down, letting go. Let your body surrender here. Just breathing in as you bow to the earth. So take a big inhale, open the mouth, let it out. And hands by the ribs, press and rise up dog or cobra, and then drawing it back into down dog. So feet together, left leg inhale. Exhale, step it through. Bring your right foot up to meet the left and fold. Keep out, rising and drawing into the heart. Pause. Take that Viramudra. So we're coming into the final wave, this final cycle. Just hear your intention. Feel your mantra rising up. As you inhale, lift up and now open the arms. Let that radiance within expand fully. Heart is lifted, opening to the heavens. Take the arms, extend up. And again, opening it out. Full radiance of life. Inhale, lift up. And then just like the sun, just opening. Let your light, your fire awaken, be offered. Rising and forward fold. So we're coming into the last three cycles. Inhale halfway. You are almost there. Three quarters of the way and fall. Step the right foot back. Step the left. You can do it. Knees down if you need to. I'm going to. Don't be ashamed of putting the knees down. 12. Nine. And anahatasana. Just pause here. And again, just breathing into the heart. Let yourself go. Now this time instead of sliding forward, walk back, sitting into child's pose. And then roll the body up, sitting onto your heels and then lifting up onto your knees. Take your left hand to the sacrum. Let the right arm rise up, lifting, reaching back. Let the heart shine. And letting yourself coming up. Two more. Just like that. Let it rise. And lifting.

Last time. Feel that prayer offering lift up. And rising, coming up and we'll sit. Pause. So these last few cycles, really hearing that intention in every cell of your body. Feel that fire, that great Agni, that life force awaken. As we come onto all force, drop the belly, lift the head, curl the toes under and send the hips up and back into down dog. So feet together. Right leg. Let it rise up. Step the right foot through. Viral one, lifting, reaching to the heavens. Take that Viramudra, expanding up and now opening out. Viral one, with pranamudra through the arms, through the body, let it shine. Lift up to the heavens. And then open, expanding. Letting that current, that fire awaken. One more cycle. And then breathing here. Heart is lifted. Shining like the sun. Lifting up and drawing down. Yes. All right. In the middle. Fingers slightly in. I know you've got it. Knees down a straight legs. 12. Neat one. Hear your intention. Hear your mantra. And anahatasana, right? The counter pose tastes so sweet. It's like, ah, yes. Breathing here. Let yourself sit back on the heels. Walk back. And then rolling up. Ardavarasana. Lift up onto the knees. It's time. Right hand to the sacrum. Left arm sweeps out. Let it rise up. Coming up. Two more. You've got it. Breath lifts you. And then the heart's shining. And one more. And sitting down. And then we'll pause. Breathing here. Come onto all fours. Curl the toes under. Drop the belly. Lift the head. And rising up and back. Down dog. So feet together. Left leg. Inhale. Set the left foot forward. Right heel grounds. Rise up. Virra one. Take Virra mudra. And then opening out. Prana. Life voice.

Lift to the sun. See that offering. See that radiance of heaven. Just pouring down. Washing over. Inhale rise. Take a full breath. Open out. Heart lifted. And lift to the heavens. Heaven to earth. Your last cycle. We've did it. We made it through. Yes. Ah. So either knees down, straight legs 12. And yes. Ah. I know even for myself, my friends, it is a challenge. Every time I do this is always the best reward though at the end when we complete. You know that you've done your practice. You've done your due diligence. You've awakened that fire. Yeah. And walking back from Anahatasana into child's. And roll up. Hey, now as we lift up in the counter pose, tasting so sweet Virra mudra at the heart. Let it lift. And then when you open, feel that intention. Let it just shine forth. Hands coming down to the sacrum, lifting the heart. Neither hands stay here at the sacrum. No neck issues. Let the head go. And if it's there, hands down to the heels. Heart just shining forth. And rising hands back to the sacrum, coming up. And we'll sit back, paused like we began. Bringing the hands into Virra mudra. And then we'll offer together the sound of Aum. Let the arms lift to the heavens. As we chant, opening out. Aum. And as you come down, right? So my friends, yeah. 108 prostrations. Yes. So turning, extending the legs out. Yes. And we'll roll on down. Ah, Shavasana will feel you. So sacred, so good. And still having right in your mudra over your head, your mala resting here. Just feel the presence. You surrender down. And just let yourself go. Feeling the fire awakened within you. And intention your prayers and offering today.

As you surrender and let go. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. So my friends, take a deep inhale. And exhaling completely. Gently feel the body start to awaken. And if you like to stay here longer, feel free just to rest.

Take your time. Be here as long as you need to be. For those coming up, draw the knees in. And rolling off to your right. And take your time as you press yourself up, rising to seated. Now, bringing your left hand with the palm facing up, bringing the pinky to the navel.

Just feel that here at the fire center. With your right hand making a fist with the thumb lifted. Placing it on top of the left. Shiva lingam mudra. Here at the third chakra, Manipura. The rising of that great fire within you. Awaken. In this practice here, not just doing push-ups, but doing these prostrations as a prayer, as an offering with intention, with mantra. With intention of awakening the fire that lives in each and every one of us. With intention of letting go that which does not serve us anymore.

Shiva, destruction yet creation. As we let go, we awaken to that which is new. So feeling here, all that you're awakening in your life. As we offer together the sound of Om. Inhale. Om. As you honor the God, Goddess within Satguru.

Namaste.