Overview

One of the signs of mastery in Hatha Yoga is the ability to build our energy through practice while expending less and less - this is the very definition of efficiency.

The Building Prana with Hatha Yoga workshop series introduces principles and methods for developing just this efficiency in practice. Mastery of these techniques results in strong and free-flowing prana, which makes the fulfillment of worldly and spiritual aspirations much easier.

This Level 1 workshop includes a 25-minute lecture and a 75-minute guided practice session designed to establish a sound foundation for energetic work. We focus on two primary aspects: building the container and building the center.

First, building a solid container requires increasing the power and functioning of the legs with stance and karana work combining strength and flexibility. This has the purpose of enhancing the quality of respiration as well as creating a structure capable of containing a higher energetic charge.

Second, building our center involves awakening and charging up the kanda (the energetic center of the lower abdomen). We will do this by learning to move and position the body on its point of balance, together with the integration of breath and bandha.

These two aspects are important keys to building our energetic capacity and will establish a solid foundation for learning the more advanced practices of building prana which will be explored in future sessions.

This workshop is appropriate for students with a good grounding in the basics of Hatha yoga. No matter what style of yoga you have practiced, the principles laid out in this workshop will be useful to you.

Buyer's Guide

• Audience: Students with a good grounding in the basics of hatha yoga
• Focus: Building energetic capacity and establishing a strong foundation for more advanced work
• Intensity: Breath work and challenging postures that combine strength and flexibility
• Props: None required
• Style: Theory lecture and full practice

Customer Reviews

Also from Mark Horner

About Mark Horner

Mark Horner has been teaching Hatha Yoga for 18 years throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. His primary guide is Zhander Remete, the founder of Shadow Yoga, with whom he has studied continuously since 1992.

In 1997, Mark founded Moksha Yoga Shala in Walnut Creek, California, where he leads teacher training courses, and a comprehensive program in Shadow Yoga. In addition, Mark leads frequent retreats and workshops in northern California, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, and Mexico.

Mark's teaching is enhanced by 8 years experience as a Certified Rolfer, many years of classical piano study, rock climbing, and the study of Ayurveda and the Taoist Internal Arts. Another major influence is the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, as transmitted by the great Indian sage Nisargadatta Maharaj.

Mark’s focus is on imparting an in-depth understanding of practice, based on the methods and wisdom of the classical Hatha Yogic and philosophical texts. For Mark, the practice of yoga is a means to awaken the light of discriminative awareness, leading to a better quality of life, and the possibility of ultimate freedom.

You can read more about Mark and his work at www.horneryoga.com. You can also read more about Mark and his work in a recent Special Feature post on our blog The Sacred Cow.