Curriculum

Ashtanga Yoga

Our curriculum is based on Ashtanga Yoga as it was originally chronicled in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Patanjali describes eight aspects or limbs of conscious living or spiritual practice. The simultaneous practice of all eight aspects is called Ashtanga Yoga.

The eight aspects of Ashtanga yoga are like flowers or beads in a thread. There can never be a garland without all the flowers or beads strung together in the thread and guru is that hidden thread .

Yoga, that is popular today, mainly focuses on the third and fourth aspect – Asana and Pranayama. At Brahma Yoga, Alpna leads the student through the simultaneous practice of all eight aspects. For each student, she prescribes an easy to follow yoga routine that is uniquely fitted to their life-style and temperament. Through Alpna’s guidance, each student is able to progress on their spiritual journey – a journey towards their centre. Along the way, their pains, diseases, fears and aversions are all cured completely.

Meditation

Despite its immense popularity, meditation remains much misunderstood. It is not an exercise to improve our concentration; or the imagination of a scene that gives peace and satisfaction; nor is it just a method to stop the incessant activity of our mind. Meditation is a scientific process with which individuals can realise their true purpose with the goal to attain eternal oneness with the Supreme.

Everyone yearns for a true purpose - a purpose that is in sync with one’s role in the Supreme Cosmic plan - because realising it alone brings us true joy, love and happiness. However only a fortunate few can claim to know their true purpose. For most, it remains a delusion. The materialistic world keeps them occupied in planning, manipulating and visualising trivial pursuits that provide only momentary happiness. The bank balance keeps on increasing but the quest for earthly pleasures continues and the thirst remains till death.

Meditation is that divine gift which helps one to break free from this ceaseless quest and be aware of one’s true purpose. Meditating under a guru’s guidance helps one leave behind all sensory thoughts and longings for possessions. It quietens the waves of stress and mental restlessness. Once the mind is relaxed, it directs the energy within - towards realising the ultimate goal, the purpose of the Soul.

At BrahmaYoga, meditation is designed for everyone irrespective of religious beliefs and philosophies. The Master guides the students to focus on the Ajna Chakra (Third Eye- two inches above the centre of the eyebrows) and calm their mind during meditation. Meditation is simplified to just monitor the thoughts instead of controlling them. Gradually thoughts cease, and a student enters the state of Soul-consciousness. With regular practice of meditation, various kinds of astral lights - white, yellow, red, blue, green, mixed lights, flashes like lightning - become manifest. The lights are an assurance that the mind is becoming more steady and the student is progressing in concentration. After multiple sessions of meditation with the Master, the size and steadiness of the light increases and becomes a full blaze of orange-white light, like the sun, which represents the connection of Soul-consciousness with the Supreme-consciousness. A mere glimpse of this light gives immense joy and happiness and brings a lot of peace and stability in a student’s life. With more practice, the connection of Soul with the Supreme-consciousness is established, and the student can also hear a voice along with the light . This voice is God’s way of communicating with the soul. The voice guides the student towards achieving true purpose and attaining eternal oneness with the Supreme.

“Through the practice of physical postures, you align your body with your mind. Through meditation, you align your mind with the universe. When you are in tune with the universe, you are able to understand all that happens around you and see meaning in all life’s difficulties. You become free of resistance and are able to accept everything that comes your way. Eventually, from a Seeker, you become a Knower.” – Alpna