The Gunas

I love learning about Yoga philosophy and Prakriti and Gunas are some of the most fascinating parts, especially because understanding them helps me teach and practice with more effectivly.  In sandscrit, Prakrity means "Nature".  Pracrity has 3 ways of manifesting herself and can be seein in very thing we do.  These are the 3 Gunas -  Rajas, Tamas and Sattva.  Each Guna has a unique expression showing up in evrything we do, how we look, govern ourselves and our relationships.  Interestingly, each pose is dominantly one guna, just as all things in nature are.  

Raja is a dynamic, insistent, and passionate energy, that is distinguished by effort and pain.  Most gyms have a very Rajasic practice and the energy of it seeks strength, power and and catharsis sometimes becoming excessive.  Rajasic energy is a forward and backward movement. Downward facing and forward lunge are good examples of a Raja pose as well as the movement in and out of poses.  
Tamas is a heavier, stronger, steady energy.  In Yoga, it is the deeper movement wihtin the focus of each posture.    Tamas can supply a steadying infuence in life.    In yoga Tamasic energy is the up and down curents of extention of head and connection to the feet.  When you really lengthen upward in a pose, it becomes more Tamasic.  If unbalanced, the Tamasic energy would be what keeps someone from trying a posture, from participating or from recieving touch in hands on adjustments.  Sattvic Energy reveals what is true and real.  It is light, delicate, clear and graceful.  Sattva is "the pure mind with neither judgment nor self-awareness." In Yoga it is the balancing postures or the Sattva of Namaste.  It is the centering point of your practice, the point just prior to conversation.  Sattva is free from negative thoughts and emotions which in turn creates enlightenment and self-realization.  In yoga Sattva would view a yoga practice as a journey "with each yoga postures as a potential for both steady joy as well as challenge. In Yoga Teacher Training with Syl through Bodhi Yoga teaches all about this and so much more!  www.gobodhiyoga.com