MASTERCLASS: Bhuta Shuddhi, an advanced meditation

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS SESSION GO TOWARD SCHOLARSHIPS for SUMMER SESSION.  AHA Yoga will match any funds raised in this session.  Our goal is to raise enough for FIVE students to attend a full Summer Term Course; each person will also receive a yoga mat.  

A comfortable seated posture will be necessary for this practice.

WHAT IS A MASTERCLASS?  

Masterclasses at AHA Yoga are designed to take students step-by-step into a particular asana (yoga posture) or detailed yogic practice (such as bandhas; advanced pranayama; advanced meditation techniques, and so on) less often taught in regular sessions. The objective is to refine capacities for concentration and relaxation of the mind in order to experience deeper forms of pratyahara (sense withdrawal) and meditation.  

These are NOT about physical prowess, and no offering at AHA Yoga is primarily concerned with fitness.  Masterclasses ARE about attentive study and practice of alignment, concentration, self-discipline, so each student begins to feel the vast wealth of what yoga has to offer and, most importantly, more easefully and regularly gain access to his or her own inner riches, freedom, and fulfillment. 

You must be able to slow down your mind as well as follow instructions. If you are in a hurry, these are not the courses for you.

For this particular Masterclass, breath training, established and effortless diaphragmatic breathing, and some experience with mantra meditation is required, as well as a regular AND systematic meditation practice is required.  This course will also involve sustained mental focus.

The goal of ALL yoga is to purify the mind in order to access what our general focus on and identification with the mind obscures.  The mind can then be an effective, refined tool as it becomes more one-pointed and turns inward.  Yoga techniques such as asana (postures) begin to purify and strengthen the physical body and remove impurities.  But removing distractions, disturbances, and impurities of the mind also requires a process of purification.  In order to support the mind, the nervous system must also be strengthened; this is where breath training and pranayama (breath expansion) is crucial, along with a regular and systematic meditation.  

BHUTA SHUDDHI is a beautiful and traditional practice to restore balance to internal functioning. It soothes the mind and awakens access to inner truth.

It facilitates in the release of mental, emotional, and energetic imbalances such as doubts, fears, and regrets.  It attenuates the tendency toward sloth and inertia.

Bhuta Shuddhi is a process of purification and engendering wholeness, in preparation for deeper meditation, withdrawing inward to access the truth, beauty, and empowerment of our highest selves.

Bhuta Shuddhi addresses the basic elements of the body--earth, water, fire, air, and ether--along with their corresponding energy centers in the body (cakras/chakras).  This process includes diaphragmatic breathing, systematic relaxation, pranayama (including, but not limited to, Nadi Shodhanam), visualization, as well as repetition of specific mantras while maintaining a one-pointed focus on each respective center in the body.

“The human body, more precisely the chakras—the vortices of consciousness in the body—are the gateway to discovering the mystery of the universe and our life in it.”  

                         —The Practice of the Yoga Sutra by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait

The focal point in this guided meditation is the body itself, along with (externally) silent, internal sacred sound.

Bhuta Shuddhi introduces you to yourself, allows you to build more self-compassion, and brings you to the deepest layers of your being.  It will enhance your regular asana and pranayama practice by helping the mind to better concentrate.  In addition, it will refine and coordinate the senses for more harmonious balance, while also easing and clarifying mental functioning such, particularly memory and speech.

Bhuta Shuddhi is revered in tantric, kundalini, and raja yoga traditions because it is one of the most optimal and effective ways of clearing blocks in the subtle body because its methods are extraordinarily all-inclusive.  To attain these benefits, it must be undertaken regularly, with sincerity, and with the support of a trusted teacher.

The objective of Bhuta Shuddhi is to harmonize the diverse functions of your system, and to better concentrate and direct the inherent powers of the body and mind, support a more fruitful meditation practice, and awaken to more subtle levels of awareness.  These are all in service to the ultimate goal of meditation, to reintegrate consciousness.  Thus is is said that true yoga practice introduces yourself to your truest self, so you know and realize who you really are and thus blossom within your life.

Please be fully aware that no matter how simple the methods of Bhuta Shuddhi seem experientially, approach it with great reverence, focus, care, and gratitude.  It is indeed a master practice in the deepest sense, and is a spiritual gift and potentially life enhancing, so it is important to approach it as such:

"Bhuta shuddhi should not happen like an exercise but with absolute involvement, like a love affair. These five elements coming together and producing something so complex, so fantastic is a tremendous love affair. Your bhuta shuddhi should happen with a sense of devotion and love. Your mind, your emotions, your energy, your physical body – everything should be involved in this. Without this involvement, you still may get certain physical benefits, but you will not know the full depth and dimension of the process. If you give yourself totally to it, this simple process can change the fundamentals of your life. "  --Sadhguru

Note that once you register for this special seminar, I will then be forwarding you some additional reading material, so you can better prepare for our session.  Though this practice can be done without such background reading, it will heighten your mental preparation and therefore reinforce your practice, so that your entire system feels the deepest possible benefits for where you are presently.

Please BRING YOUR YOGA MAT. If you use a shared studio mat, please note there is a $2 rental fee and it is your responsibility to sanitize it after each use (cleaning supplies provided).

 

 

All other props (bolsters, blankets, blocks, hand weights, eye pillows, straps, etc) are provided; if you have preferred personal props, feel free to bring those.  We WILL be doing a long guided relaxation in Svasana (Corpse Pose, lying on the back), so please do take advantage of props so that this is extremely comfortable and supported.

 

 

Purchase of the tuition pass below for "BHUTA SHUDDHI, an advanced meditation masterclass" confirms your agreement to the following Terms & Conditions of Registration & Attendance, as well as the Waiver and Release:

• If you have any medical concerns, injuries, allergies, are pregnant, or have any changes in such conditions, it is your duty & responsibility to inform your teacher prior to class.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU ARE NOT FACING ANY OF THE CONTRAINDICATIONS LISTED ABOVE for Bhuta Shuddhi.
• You attest that you are familiar with diaphragmatic breathing, mantra meditation, and have a regular, systematic meditation practice.
• Your place is held only upon receipt of tuition payment ($25; or $20 Early Bird).
• Payments for this Yoga class is non-refundable, unless your class is taken off the weekly schedule due to low enrollment, dire teacher emergency, or unavoidable natural disaster.  You can transfer your pass to a friend if you need to cancel.
• There are NO pro-rated tuition fees for absences  and NO make-up classes for missed days.   
• Payments for this course are not transferable to a future class, series, term, or event.  All passes expire the day of this workshop.
• Advise your teacher with 24-hours advance notice if you are unable to attend (text message is preferred) so another student can take your place.
• The teacher holds the right to cancel or reschedule any classes, sessions, or events due to extreme illness or emergencies.  Students will be notified of the rescheduled date and every attempt will be made to accommodate each student’s schedule. 
• Credit-debit payments are completed online.  Cash or check (made out to “AHA Yoga”) is paid in person or mailed (305 E Duval St, Suite 101, Lake City, FL 32055).
• Turn off or put all cell phones on silent.
• Do not leave valuable personal items in your vehicle; personal items may be stored in the prop room.
• Words and energy matter!  THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR MEDITATION, as the whole point is the purify and refine the mind. This is your time to turn inward, and much care has been given to cultivating a sacred space. You and your colleagues are doing deep work when you undertake yoga. Please be respectful of your peers and teacher and maintain the calm, peaceful, and quiet space.  This means this is not the time for gossip, complaining, or leftover conversations from work, or any less than calm, tender-hearted, well-intended speech.  Take this time and space to breathe and transition into your practice and allow your best self to shine.   Speak quietly and take loud conversations outside.
• Please take your shoes off at the door of the studio to keep the floor clean and sanitary.
• Doors open 15 minutes prior to the session beginning; please be on your mat and ready to go at the starting time.
• It’s best not to eat one hour prior to yoga; for some people, 2 hours are required.
• Be sure to replace props--especially the blankets!--as neatly as you found them; blanket fringe goes toward the wall.
• If anything can be done to make your experience more comfortable, secure, and successful, please let your teacher know (temperature, bathroom needs attention, you need to leave early, special concern, etc.).  Suggestions to improve your yoga & meditation experience are always welcome.
• A separate Waiver & Release  and Terms & Conditions for AHA Yoga must be completed and signed prior to practice on your first day (unless you are a returning student and have already signed this). Hard copies are available at the studio. 
• Please BRING A YOGA MAT.  If you use a shared studio mat, please note there is a $2 rental fee and  it is your responsibility to sanitize it after each use (cleaning supplies provided).  All other props (bolsters, blankets, blocks, hand weights, eye pillows, straps, etc) are provided; if you have preferred personal props, feel free to bring those.  

These policies allow me to continue offering you the best possible yoga teachings I can and ensure our community runs smoothly. Should you prefer to pay in cash or check, let me know. Connect with me if you have any questions! I would love to hear from you. 

REACH OUT and ask questions if you are not sure if Bhuta Shuddhi is for you.  If you are interested, it likely is for you!  If you do not have the pre-requisites, contact me and we may be able to get you to review and practice prior to this session so that you may participate.

In service,

Virginia Hill, AHA Yoga Teacher