Bernard described how he was instructed in the asana known from the medieval hatha yoga pradipika. A plan in mind, yes, but also on spiritual quest, bernard stretched himself. The author betook himself to india, acquired a learned guru, submitted himself to all the required physical disciplines, some of them very extraordinary. The yoga sutras of patanjali define asana as a position that is steady and comfortable. As a young man, he started to seek solutions for his health problems and was influenced by natural healing writers of the 20th century such as vincent priessnitz, louis kuhne, harry benjamin. Returning to america, bernard continued working on his dissertation at columbia university, hatha yoga. Aero yoga also known as partner yoga, involving holds, mutual balancing, and a lot of fun iyengar yoga prop yoga created by a yoga master named iyengar in india, this type of yoga is very therapeutic. It wasnt about getting into lots of postures, but about learning to train his body to sit for three hours. Hatha yoga, however, will be a splendid foundation upon which the student may build, as a sound, strong, healthy body is necessary for one. Eleanore murray collection and archive acquisition information the theos bernard papers were transferred to the bancroft library from the east asian library, university of california. Hatha yoga therapy management of urologic disorders. Hatha yoga based on a set of bodily postures or asanas.
The report of a personal experience is a 1943 book by theos casimir bernard describing what he learnt of hatha yoga while in india. Scribd is the worlds largest social reading and publishing site. First working out the muscles with massage technique then stretching them. He began teaching and lecturing on yoga on the upper east side of manhattan, where he met a wealthy polish opera star who first became one of his students and, later, a romantic interest. The time to heal with yoga and accupressure abstract hatha yoga often referred to yoga is an ancient type of physical and mental exercise that has been.
This leads theos wrote in his book hatha yoga to the samadhi of raja yoga, the fruit which destroys death, is the means of obtaining happiness, and gives the brahmanbliss. The founder of the first tibetan buddhist research institute in america. Nov 19, 2009 yoga teacher rodney yee walks you through a 4minute routine for stretching your neck and shoulders at your desk. It may be vedanta, it may be religion, it may be spirituality, it may be the art of godliving, and what not. Shambhala encyclopedia of yoga is a thoroughly updated edition, expanded with 400 new entries. Theos bernard was well before his time and trail blazing the path of knowledge on topics of hatha yoga, tantra, and tibetan buddhism. Annotated citations for penthouse of the gods, hatha yoga, heaven lies within us, a simplified grammar. Hatha yoga or the yogi philosophy of physical wellbeing. Ulrich riekers translation and commentary have long been valuable to yoga students as a complement to their practice and study.
Heaven lies within us is a unique testament to the unswerving tenacity of one who immersed himself in the full range of yoga disciplines. The report of a personal experience, is a rare insight into the way. Never over stretch, ignore warning signs like pain, squeeze air in your lungs or go against the advice of your experienced yoga teacher. Theos bernard succeeded in experiencing personally the transformative nature of a directed discipline that, according to the traditions of yoga and tantra, lead to an intensification and illumination of consciousness. While practicing this posture imagine yourself as an archer with the gaze focused on the target and the arrow firmly yet gracefully being pulled back in the bow. Practice mindfulness for 60 or 90 minutes, without expectations and without ambitions. This enabled him to still and direct his mind to achieve a higher state of awareness where the name yoga or union comes from a union with the infinite. For easeful yoga postures, and a beautiful everyday posture, a strong core is key.
The way to accomplish this audacious goal, the destruction of death itself is to awaken the divine energy, kundalini. Morris krok 28 april 1931 october 2005 was a south african author, publisher and health educator biography. Thus, it becomes a kind of subject among the many which are useful to people in one way or other. Theos bernard demonstrating vrksasana, picture from theos bernard, hatha. To start with, you work with the body, then you move to the breath, then to the mind, then to the. In 1947, theos bernard was on a mission to the ki monastery in. Having stretched the legs on the ground, like sticks and. It means one who delights in ones atman, indicating the achievement of a state of bliss. Bernard was already an ardent practitioner of hatha yoga but was eager to gain knowledge of the esoteric teachings within yoga. Although theos bernard claimed that his hometown was tombstone, arizona, paul g.
Eventually settling in new york city, theos taught yoga, specifically in forms designed for increased sexual and general energizing power. In 1947, theos bernard, another passionate student who studied in india for many years, wrote hatha yoga. Believed to have been written in the fourteenth century c. Hatha yoga is the most widely practiced form of yoga in america. Hold the posture steady as an archer would hold the arrow aimed at. Here bernard thrived and met his future wife, viola. The hatha yoga pradipika of svatmarama is one of the most important yoga texts, and hans. Collection 1932 1987 description this collection consists of photocopies of papers associated with the life of theos. Asanas postures, various kumbhakas breathing techniques, and other divine means, all should be practised in the practice of hatha yoga, till the fruit. This tendency, as well as the obsessive demand of secrecy, is nonsense. Hatha yoga, the present book, deals altogether with the physical. Theos casimir hamati bernard 19081947 was an explorer and author, known for his work on yoga and religious studies, particularly in tibetan buddhism. The extent to which he has succeeded in mastering these practices is partly shown by thirtyseven photographs. White, uc berkeley art museum and pacific film archive.
Tony sanchez yoga youtube 84 asanas youtube hatha yoga for. Hatha yoga therapy management of urologic disorders by dr. This is the title of a new book by theos bernard, done as a phd thesis for columbia. Bernard, theos, 1908archives yoga history tantric buddhismchinatibethistory tibet chinahistory20th century theos c. Hatha yoga by theos bernard and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Pursuing his studies through a masters degree at columbia university in anthropology and comparative religion, he spent. Box 1, folder 1 theos bernard 19091920s box 1, folder 2 theos bernard 1920s1930s box 1. An indian yogi named svatmarama wrote the hatha yoga pradipika in the fifteenth century c. The pri mary purpose of the investigation was to test by personal experience the techniques of hatha yoga. Hatha yoga asanas beginners hatha yoga poses pdf with. Hathayoga is the physical yoga which teaches the aspirant how to. Download hatha yoga report of a personal experience theos bernard. It is the branch of yoga that concentrates on physical health and mental wellbeing. Yoga in the gita does not involve postures, but rather is a code for how one. In spite of the years passed since its publication and of several texts of hatha yoga appearing recently, that book is still one of the best ones. Theos casimir hamati bernard 19081947 was an explorer and author, known for his work. This phoney yoga of stretching and bending is a 20th century invention that could be called american yoga. Theos casimir bernard collection arizona historical society. The report of a personnal experience theos bernard on.
The practice he claimed to have learned had nothing to do with the hatha yoga we practise today91. This quote form theos bernard s hatha yoga seems to be an exceptional reference to counterpose, and looking through his book it is clear that the poses he. Bernhard deals at length with the many postures, purification and breathing exercises used in the orient by those yogis who have attained enlightenment. Health benefits of hatha yoga and physical exercise. Theos bernard i was pleased to see eleven photos herein of bernard demonstrating asana, richard hittleman, b. Bernard s intention wasnt for admiration or instagram hits but to show how to execute possibly a bad choice of word a particular posture to get an inner result. It is one of the first books in english to describe and illustrate a substantial number of yoga poses. He was the nephew of pierre arnold bernard, oom the omnipotent, like him becoming a yoga celebrity his account of oldstyle hatha yoga as a spiritual path, hatha yoga. A concise history and development of yoga gyanunlimited. The psychical, mental and spiritual phases of the subject belong to the other branches of the work. Walk taller, enjoy a healthier digestive system and firmer back with yoga downloads variety of challenging workouts designed specifically to lengthen, strengthen and tone all abdominal muscles down to the core. Bernard s nephew theos bernard that america encountered a hatha yoga discourse directly inspired by the hatha yoga pradipika. The yoga scholar and practitioner theos bernard, in his 1944 hatha yoga.
Success cannot be attained by adopting a particular dress vesa. In 19361937, theos casimir bernard made an extraordinary pilgrimage to tibet in search of adventure and spiritual enlightenment. Theos bernard and the early days oftantric yoga in america paul g. The purpose and preparation of asana the practice of asanas results in feeling well, improved health, better posture, or increased self esteem. Hatha yoga, or hatha vidya the science of hatha yoga is commonly misunderstood and. Theos casimir bernard december 10, 1908 death date unknown, probably midseptember. The idea to write this book came after reading theos bernards hatha yoga. Heaven lies within us finally republished in a smaller, modern, sleek format. The hatha yoga pradipika is one of the most renowned and accessible texts written on the ancient practice of hatha yoga. Join theos bernard on his autobiographical journey from deaths door to radiant health through the practices of yoga. Forcing an asana against the advice of your yoga teacher may lead to injury and will likely prolong mastery over the pose. The report of a personal experience 1950 a modern classic of yogic experience i first read this extraordinary book in 1974, having obtained a copy from the ucla library.
Liselie soto 20062010 4 advasana o cadaver cara hacia abajo 59. This is a great soltuion for officeworkers short on. Hold the posture steady as an archer would hold the arrow aimed at its target. Yoga hatha yoga anatomy, yoga physiology and exercisebased. The report of a personal experience, one of the first guidebooks to yoga asanas. Furthermore the american theos bernard wikipedia link travelled in india in the 1930s to study and experience hatha yoga. Biographical research timeline of bernard family 1908 1947 2 bernard family tree 1847 1956 3 bibliography of theos bernard s published works. Anusara yoga is not limited to mere asana technique or technical instruction. Upon rereading the text this time using a copy from the uc davis library i was struck with just how arduous and focused was bernard s quest. Yoga meditation kundalini yoga yoga inspiration reiki vishuddha chakra hatha yoga poses yoga for flexibility yoga journal types of yoga babaji kriya yoga is to release oneself from the stressful life and not bother about the petty things in life and instead think of better and bigger things that make our life complete. Report hatha yoga report of a personal experience theos bernard. His account of oldstyle hatha yoga as a spiritual path, hatha yoga.
Morris krok was born in johannesburg and brought up in durban, south africa. Yoga teacher rodney yee walks you through a 4minute routine for stretching your neck and shoulders at your desk. The theos bernard papers were transferred to the bancroft library from the east asian library, university of california. In 1950, richard hittleman, a spiritual disciple of ramana maharshi, began teaching the physical aspects of hatha yoga. Next to nothing is known about him, although his name may provide a clue.
Hatha yoga uses bodily postures asanas, breathing techniques pranayama, and meditation dyana with the goal of bringing about a sound, healthy body and a clear, peaceful m. Through prolonged stretch and relaxation, the muscles are freed from the constrained posture to bring about the. Review, theos bernard, the white lama 2 practical matters losophy, american theosophy, spiritualism, and other versions of esoteric texts and practices, including yoga. In sanskrit the word gutarstais used to describe a kind of yoga in which the physical body is the primary tool. A clinical report, he seems to have chosen the following title for his phd dissertation. Bernard, theos collection arizona historical society. One by one he learned to master each asana until he could keep it for.
Some of the earliest photos of a westerner doing asana were of the eventually presumed murdered, theos bernard in the 1930s. I first came across the term in theos bernard s hatha yoga, later one of my own yoga teachers, tim geoghegan made clear to me its importance. Theos bernard hatha yoga free ebook download as pdf file. The report of a personal experience, stated that he was prescribed a group of asanas i calculated to bring a rich supply of blood to the brain and to various parts of. Since this was his dissertation to be the first person to receive his phd in religious studies at columbia university, it is an important slice of history. Asanas are also called yoga poses or yoga postures in english. As documented by linda sparrowe, it was introduced to america in 1947 by theos bernard, author of one of the. Jan 09, 2015 returning to america, bernard continued working on his dissertation at columbia university, hatha yoga. Kundalini yoga is a dynamic blend of exercises, postures, breath and meditation to fulfill your need to improve, expand, refresh and rejuvenate in a fast paced world that is in.
Hatha yoga uses bodily postures asanas, breathing techniques pranayama, and meditation dyana with the goal of bringing about a sound, healthy body and a clear, peaceful mind there are nearly 200 hatha yoga postures. Hatha yoga conscious breathing, observing the mind, while practicing and deepening the classical asanas and sun salutations these are the elements that let us experience yoga. He was the nephew of pierre arnold bernard, oom the omnipotent, like him becoming a yoga celebrity. In internet archive ia you can read or download the full text in pdf, text, or other formats. Bhagavad gita gheranda samhita hatha yoga pradipika kamasutra shiva samhita complete set. This is a great soltuion for officeworkers short on time and long on stiff muscles. Theos bernard is one of the rare individuals who has done so. An asana is a body posture, originally and still a general term for a sitting meditation pose, and later extended in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise, to any type of pose or position, adding reclining, standing, inverted, twisting, and balancing poses. One of the most important postures that i was required to perfect is called sirsasana. Theos bernard wikipedia link was strongly influenced by the concept of tantra outlined by the orientalist john woodrooffe aka arthur avalon and his uncle pierre bernard.
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