From 21st to 23rd April, NAMAH hosted a three-day experiential workshop on Body’s Aspiration for the Divine: Yoga Asanas and Beyond, facilitated by Ankita Sharma, who aims to unravel the deep, subtle and hidden mysteries around Yoga through her experiential discoveries and Consciousness research. With sincere Sadhakas, she explores the embodiment and integration of the higher consciousness and its divine qualities.
Over these three days, the facilitator provided a safe, nurturing and supportive environment for participants to set aside the mind’s agendas and lovingly connect with the body through deeper reflections, asanas, pranayama, mudras, affirmations and mantra chanting.
Today, science too acknowledges that the body absorbs vibrations from the environment. As a result, we often feel the emotions of people or the atmosphere around us. Along with our own untransformed tendencies, this brings conflicting wills and forces in the body, leading to tiredness, confusion, fatigue, burn-out, lifestyle disorders, anxiety and self-doubt regarding spiritual progress. These vibrations delay the divine Action, transformation and spiritual evolution.
Keeping this in view, the workshop aimed to help participants realise experientially that the body can be freed from past entanglements and become a vessel for divine Light, Power, Beauty and Delight if we hold a steady aspiration for the integral transformation. Contrary to an old yogic notion that the body is a hindrance to union with the Truth Consciousness, the facilitator encouraged aspiring in the body every moment during the day and making it a sacred temple for the Divine by invoking the Presence. She advised against doing practices mechanically and guided participants to connect their bodies with the psychic flame in the heart throughout for a more beautiful and divine life. She encouraged everyone to make their own discoveries with love and reverence for a Higher Life.
Through guided practices, participants were led into the space above the head, taught to keep each part of the body receptive and entered the subtle physical realms to consecrate the Mother and the flower’s essence there. They practised receiving Silence and Being-ness to touch the True Substance and sense a single vibration of Love in the whole being.
Ankita highlighted how, over the years, Yoga Asanas, initially meant to discipline the body for immobility as per Sage Patanjali, became the end goal for many. She familiarised the participants with the Yamas (Ethical codes) and Niyamas (Personal disciplines), needed to truly bring awareness in the body. She contrasted Patanjali’s eight limbs with Sri Aurobindo’s discoveries on Hatha Yoga and Pranayama, to show how the body’s substance can become a bridge between the old and the new world, provided we infuse Truth Consciousness into the cells of the body and make them transparent. The participants were also encouraged to connect their breath with Maha Prana, the cosmic Life-Force of the Divine Mother.
From the facilitator's direct experiences and the words of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, it became clear that unless the body itself releases old entanglements, habits, and trapped memories, the True Delight of the Divine cannot be fully experienced for a sustained period. Drawing from her inner journey, Ankita explained the difficulty of organising the material mind. It is only when the mind and vital are sufficiently transformed that the body’s cells become transparent and capable of aspiring for the divine Light. Even though every cell mirrors the cosmos and holds the divine Spark, the dense collective Physical conceals it. She shared that the Mother called the cellular mind ignorant, clinging to old habits, and explained that through japa and mantra, it must be silenced gradually to receive the higher Forces and psychic influence. Together, the participants aspired to awaken the aspiration in the cells.
The participants were asked to patiently wait instead of becoming restless, allowing the body to respond through sensations, colours, memories or intuitions. She shared that the body understands the language of love and nourishment.
It was emphasised that it is the Mother's Force which makes the transformation possible in all Sadhaks; however, holding constant aspiration and purification is part of active and dynamic surrender, which is highly encouraged on the path of Integral Yoga.
Participants shared their perspectives and challenges within the body. Through reflective dialogues, Ankita highlighted the importance of patience and perseverance for the body’s Sadhana, explaining that integration and assimilation take time.
Participants also took home practices for daily sadhana as an offering to the Divine Mother, including:
- Staying connected with the Truth Consciousness or the psychic flame at all times
- Practising various Mudras and feeling the change in the vibrations
- Holding Hatha Asanas with proper breathing to release trapped tension and tightness
- Hatha Asanas for the Heart Centre, combined with chanting the Mother’s Mantra
- Hatha Asanas for strength and balance in the being
- Connecting prana to the Mother to remain grounded and centred
- Anchoring in the Consciousness and Substance of our masters
- Need for rest and a deep plunge into total silence without agendas.
Feedback
- “Everything and the asanas helped a lot. I would like such sessions in maybe smaller modules and a monthly fee. Appreciate it.”
- “My physical body felt at much peace and so did the mind.”
- “Yes... during the heart asanas i felt emotions and tears were falling. I felt the Mother standing in front of me and supporting me.”
- “Very helpful. The Hatha yoga was very relaxing.”
- “Very receptive.”
- “I loved the session! Really good for the body.”
- “There was some physical tension released.”
- Yes, I practise hatha yoga a lot and this was a bit different than what I am used to do so that was very inspiring and very good to experience!
- “I will redo these sessions a few times and based on the experiences will integrate some of it in my practices.”
