Advanced Yoga Practices(AYP) is an open and integrated system of advanced yoga practices. It integrates principles and streamlines practices from bhakti yoga, mantra yoga, kriya yoga, raja yoga, hatha yoga, kundalini yoga and tantra techniques.
Whereas AYP has not introduced new yoga practices, it has departed from the usual pattern of yoga teaching, in which the advanced practices are kept secret and only revealed under the guidance of a guru.
Anyone following the AYP techniques is encouraged to go at their own speed in taking on new practices; much attention is devoted in the lessons to developing skills in “self-pacing,” with the aim of assisting every practitioner to become self-sufficient in yoga. This contrasts with the more traditional approach in which a guru sets the pace for the practitioner. All of the instruction are available for free at www.aypsite.com and also has free support forums.
Teachings:
You will find all the teachings of AYP in main lessons and tantra lessons. The two main practices in AYP are deep meditation (for inner silence) and spinal breathing (for balanced ecstatic conductivity) ( as covered in the Technique/Living section of Living Unbound). The lessons concentrate on cultivating the two components of enlightenment with a variety of practices. Many other practices like Mulabandha/Asvini, Sambhavi Mudra, Siddhasana, Yoni Mudra Kumbhaka, Uddiyana/Nauli, Kechari Mudra, Chin Pump (Dynamic Jalandhara), Samyama, navi kriya, yoni chin pump, are added to build on the ongoing progress cultivated by the two core practices.
Key concepts :
- “The guru is in you” : The phrase is intended as a constant reminder that your enlightenment depends on you more than anyone, because it is only through your desire and action that divine experience can rise in you. What happens outside is a reflection of what is happening inside, not the other way around. This is the meaning of, “The guru is in you.” If we long deeply inside, we will attract the teachings we need. The guru is a flow of consciousness that begins in us, travels outward on our desire, connects outer knowledge, and then expands inside us as the knowledge is applied.
- Self-pacing: A lot of stress is put on self-pacing in practices. Main reason for this is that each person has a unique capacity for purification. Self-pacing is for determining how much practice is enough for a safe and enjoyable rise of kundalini , and how much is too much.
- Scenery: The process of purification and opening of the nervous system can result in visions, sounds, energy, feelings, which are called scenery. Experiences are a good sign of progress in the journey to enlightenment, but it is practices that moves us forward. So, enjoy the “scenery”, however, after an admiring look at the passing scenery, no matter how beautiful, always go back to the practice.
- Paying it forward: Yogani calls AYP a “pay it forward” project. It is his thank you to all the great ones who have taught and forwarded yoga before. His request to all who want to thank him is to continue with daily yoga practices, enjoy the results and if this has helped you, pass the word about the lessons, go out and help people in need… share your good will. And then, if they are obliged, tell them to go help others.
- Horizontal teaching: This is a concept in where in people pass their practices and experiences on to others in everyday life, as well as in the classroom and yoga studio. The lessons, by themselves, can inspire and empower people to take up yoga practices. When you add to this real people who are experiencing the effects of the practices, and you have all you need for “horizontal teaching.”. If every candle can light a few candles, pretty soon, all the candles will be lit”. This is the mathematics of spreading good in an exponentially expanding way.
Books/publications :
- Advanced Yoga Practices – Easy Lessons for Ecstatic Living covers the main practices in detail.
- The Secrets of Wilder – A Novel
- Deep Meditation – Pathway to Personal Freedom
- Spinal Breathing Pranayama – Journey to Inner Space
- Tantra – Discovering the Power of Pre-Orgasmic Sex
- Asanas, Mudras & Bandhas – Awakening Ecstatic Kundalini
- Samyama – Cultivating Stillness in Action, Siddhis and Miracles
- Diet, Shatkarmas and Amaroli – Yogic Nutrition & Cleansing for Health and Spirit
- Self-Inquiry – Dawn of the Witness and the End of Suffering
- Bhakti & Karma Yoga – The Science of Devotion and Liberation Through Action
- Eight Limbs of Yoga – The Structure and Pacing of Self-Directed Spiritual Practice
Founder:
Born in New York, Yogani grew up Christian in the 1950s and 60s, securing an education in science followed by career, marriage and children. All the while he was steadily expanding from his Christian roots, systematically integrating esoteric methods from the Far East into his daily spiritual practice routine. Over thirty years later and retired, he decided to write it all down so there would be a record of his research left behind for other seekers of truth. Yogani calls himself is an American spiritual scientist and has many years’ experience in blending powerful yoga methods with the modern lifestyle. The Internet writing has evolved to become a non-sectarian website with hundreds of free lessons on spiritual techniques, as well as numerous other resources. He adamantly rejects the “guru” label. In fact, every lesson he puts on the Internet ends with, “The guru is in you.”
Resources:
Inner Space
- Excellent Post By Yogani on Deep Meditation, at the AYP Forum.