The abdominal muscles, when used as they were intended, create an anatomical boundary, not unlike a bandha, to effectively move energy along the spine.  The impact generated lengthens the lumbar and opens the upper thoracic spine allowing us to move into our areas of restriction in increasingly effortless ways.  

 

From superficial to deepest, the four layers of the abdominal muscles are the rectus ‘six-pack’ abdominis, external obliques, internal obliques, and transversus ‘core’ abdominis. 

 

The retraining of these four muscles is a clear demonstration of how yoga returns us to our true nature.  The more our core transverse muscles take over as the abdominal “workhorses”, the more the body, breath & mind can become quiet.  Thus, wholistically, we achieve the integration of our Annamaya (physical sheath), Pranamaya (energy sheath), and Manomaya Koshas (mental sheath). 

 

It is this holistic integration that opens us to experience our Vijnanamaya (intuitive wisdom) and Anandamaya Koshas (bliss). 

 

In this workshop, yoga actions for retraining the four abdominal muscles as well as activating the Uddiyana Bandha will be practised.  Pratyahara, pranayama and meditation are included in this practice.