One can read the words about the practices and philosophies of yoga in many books. Alternatively, one can choose to do the practices and observe the results. One must consider whether now is the time in life to examine such practices? When students would ask my teacher how many lifetimes of yoga practice it would take them in order to experience the state of samadhi, he would say Why not now, in this lifetime? Are you ready to experience the Divine in this lifetime, or are you content to wait until death and beyond to potentially have that experience? Do you wish to know your history before you transitioned into this life? Do you wish to understand that creative force which gave rise to you? Before you die do you wish to know where your consciousness will go after death? Practical Yoga Sutras presents a clear commentary on the ancient text of the Yoga Sutras as well as practices that allow deeper understanding of that ancient presentation of the complete path of yoga. An excerpt from the current text of the first sutra is as follows: Now begins the exposition of yoga. Preceding the Now, it is assumed that the reader has done a considerable amount of yoga practice in order to be able to understand what follows in this text of the Yoga Sutras. The exposition of yoga is actually to be done by the student through the results of their own yoga practice. While one can read the words of the sutras, understanding will only come through practice and the grace of insight that dawns when the student is fully prepared to experience those states of consciousness spoken about in the Yoga Sutras. The meaning of the word yoga can be translated as union, or of binding together. Some think of yoga as the binding of body, mind, and spirit with the Divine. This is similar in meaning to the root word of religion, namely the Latin word religio, which also means to bind together. Practices: From the standpoint of yoga practices, the term yoga has several practical meanings of union, or binding together. My teacher helped me experience two of those meanings. The term hatha yoga means the union or binding together of the ha and the tha, the solar and lunar energies, the right and the left energy channels of pi?gala and i?a. The right and left energies dance with each other side to side continuously in ordinary states of consciousness. Initially I was taught to experience this energetic dance in the quiet space between the air flows of each nostril. If one attends to the coolness in each nostril during inhalation and the warmth in each nostril during exhalation, one can define two separate air flows, one in each nostril. Looking between those two air flows one can find a space where there is no airflow. In that space between the flows can be felt the energetic dance between the left and the right. The dance was first described to me as the eddy of water behind the tail of a large fish as it slowly swims through the water. Once I could feel the dance in that quiet space, I was then taught to feel the side to side energetic dance moving through the bony part of the nose bridge. Additionally I was instructed to feel the dance between the orbits of the eye sockets which are connected to the energetic petals of ajña cakra. I was also taught to feel the dance between pi?gala and i?a at the indentation above the upper lip, which rests between the right and left prominences of the upper lip. This energetic dance can be felt at any level in the system of cakras, but for many, is more easily felt at ajña cakra. When the dance comes to stillness, one is able to open a central channel of energy, su?umna, which allows one to experience expanded states of awareness. The practices of hatha yoga, pra?ayama and asana in particular, are designed to produce a union, a silence of the dance between the right and left energies. This book is written to help practitioners find the balance, health, and bliss that yoga offers.
About the Author: Initiated by the legendary yoga master, Swami Rama, in 1974, Dr. Buegel has practiced and taught yoga for 40 years. Dr. Buegel continues the work of Swami Rama's dream to integrate the ancient teachings of yoga with modern science and culture. Students around the world have appreciated Dr. Buegel's clear instruction and explanation of the fine points of yoga practices. He is ERYT-500 certified and serves as faculty for a number of Yoga Alliance certified teaching programs. The current release of Practical Yoga Sutras is a revisiting of the path of yoga originally outlined by the ancient sages. Added to the commentary are practices that help a yoga practitioner actually experience what is presented in the ancient text. Dr. Buegel received his medical training from the University of Minnesota, with post-graduate training from Northwestern University Medical School and The Medical College of Wisconsin. While practicing complementary medicine and psychiatry for 25 years in both outpatient and inpatient settings, Dr. Buegel integrated his knowledge of yoga, bodywork disciplines, energetic healing modalities, homeopathy, and nutritional science with traditional treatment offerings. Dr. Buegel's energetic healing training in the disciplines of Esoteric Healing, Reiki, Therpeutic Touch, aspects of Craniosacral Therapy, and Russian psychic techniques have helped him to understand the effects of yoga practices on pra?a flows. His continuing education in manual medicine at Michigan State University as well as bodywork training in neuromuscular therapy, sports massage, lymphatic drainage, Somatics, and shiatsu have allowed Dr. Buegel to integrate many self-applied manual techniques into his yoga teaching as an aid to hatha yoga practice. Since retiring from active medical practice, Dr. Buegel now focuses on helping others find what they need to find balance, health, and bliss in their lives.