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Question: Hello, Actually I have two questions (sorry). I am producing specialist music for yoga practice. Could you please help me with a couple of terms? 1. What is the correct term for preparation for yoga? Is it “Nidra,” or is there a more correct terminology? This is the time when you first arrive, set up a yoga mat, do a little stretching and then quietly settle down to breathe properly and relax, and quieten the mind prior to beginning Asana practice. 2. What is the proper term for ‘warm up’ - is it “Jattis,” or is there a better terminology? Thank you so much for your time.
Namaste.
Shanti Energi Music ~Shanti Answer:
Yoga Nidra refers to a specific practice of very deep relaxation, also known as yogic sleep. The term does not refer to preparation for yoga; it refers to the whole practice. Rather than moving through postures like a regular yoga class, Yoga Nidra typically only employs one asana-savasana, or corpse pose. It is the posture that completes most yoga classes. You simply lie on your back, palms up, with your legs and body relaxed while the mind stays aware and alert. There is not a specific term for the preparation stage. Check out this post where I shared some thoughts about this period of time. I have not heard of that term “jattis” and it is not in the Sanskrit dictionary when I looked it up. In my experience, most teachers look at postures from a perspective of flow, rather than a “warm-up” or “cool-down” stage like you see in exercise classes. The flow contains postures that are built sequentially, so the warm-up is built into the class itself, rather than being a separate component.
If you are creating music for yoga class, I’d recommend you think about the flow, using words to describe your music in relation to a specific flow. For example, Shanti Energy Music is perfect for a slow, contemplative yoga class or a Yoga Nidra session. |
