What is Anahata Yoga?
Why I chose Anahata Yoga and the Five Elements Form after Peter Clifford instead of Beer Yoga.
To move, nourish and inspire body, mind and soul is sometimes a challenging task. Yoga is not only a tradition and philosophy that is thousands of years old, but also makes it easier for us today to restore or maintain this balance in our hectic everyday lives. Healthy nutrition and creative activities also help to clear the mind. And what does this have to do with yoga? More than most people think and know. Because yoga is much more than expensive branded clothing, a sea of plastic mats in a cramped studio or sweaty, curious trends like beer yoga.
What is Yoga?
The Indian scholar Patanjali, who is often called the "Father of Yoga", probably wrote the first "Yoga Guide", the Yoga Sutra consisting of four chapters and 196 short verses, around the 5th century B.C. This scripture describes in the first verse that now the explanation of Yoga follows and already in the second verse the following sentence:
योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः
yogaś-citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ
"Yoga is the calming of the mind."
Who wouldn't want that these days? Aren't we all somehow looking for that big off switch that finally gives us some peace and quiet? Peace from job, family, worries, our fears and needs, unnecessary advertising, burdensome consumer pressure, annoying elevator music, noisy neighbors, smelly cars, noisy airplanes and more? How often do we numb ourselves with work, sports, adrenaline, binge-watching, social media, alcohol or other drugs in various forms, just to get "our peace" for once. Often, however, this is the only way to achieve the opposite: we distance ourselves more and more from ourselves and the search (for example for rest) becomes addiction. Not for nothing are these two words so similar.
Of course we don't want to admit this to ourselves, so we continue to destroy ourselves bit by bit until the often quoted so-called personal "traffic accident" happens in our lives and forces us to change something. This can happen in the form of a serious illness, but also through other strokes of fate or even an actual accident, as in my case with the bicycle. Fortunately I had been on the way to change my life for quite some time and at that time I was in very good physical condition. Otherwise I probably would have neither survived the accident nor coped so well.
How does Yoga bring our mind to rest?
This is achieved through the interplay of the individual "building blocks" or foundation pillars of Yoga. At least for me they are the three most important exercises on the external level, which are usually taught first, in order to grow from there step by step deeper into the practice:
Breathing (pranayama).
Of course nothing else works without them, but in yoga you learn to use them correctly - or better: you learn it again. Of course, we received the knowledge when we were born, but then most of us have forgotten the meaning and the possibilities associated with it in the course of our lives. Anyone who has ever had a panic attack and felt completely helpless, knows what I mean. Yet it could be so easy to calm your nervous system with proper breathing. Just as it is possible to warm up, to concentrate or better to find a way to sleep with the right breathing.
The physical exercise (asana).
Many people I meet say they practice yoga, but often only mean the part of the physical activity. They understand it as sport and call at most the "final relaxation" meditation, when they are not falling asleep. Few people know that Savasana is also a position that traditionally has certain procedures, such as the sun salutation. But exactly this I find completely unsuitable for beginners, because most yoga beginners lack the strength for it. However, very few teachers take this into consideration and rush their students through various sun salutations in supposed beginner classes. #notmyteacher
The meditation (Dhyana).
I admit, like many others, I find it difficult to "shut down" my hyperactive mind during meditation. The fact that mediation does not mean to think "nothing", but to let the thoughts come and go again, often does not help me in this, but on the contrary makes me even more stressed. As soon as I recite mantras, however, the situation looks completely different again. Not only the regular rhythm, combined with the appropriate breath, but also the concentration on the text in Sanskrit, a language foreign to me, helps me to switch off the mind. If I then combine the asana practice with the breath and recite mantras, even the physical exercise becomes meditation and the body is able to let go and go much deeper into stretching without the danger of stretching. I feel much better what is good for my body and my whole practice becomes rounder and more harmonious.
What is Anahata Yoga and what makes it so valuable?
Tunjung & Peter Clifford
I heard about Anahata Yoga for the first time in Bali in 2015 through my teacher Peter Clifford, and previously through one of his students, Tunjung. At a time when I was so frustrated with the alleged "beginner's classes" that I actually wanted to give up yoga. I felt that I was simply not strong and flexible enough for yoga. Luckily I was proven wrong and with a year's delay due to my accident I was able to start my training as a yoga teacher with Peter himself in 2017. At that time I did not realize that this was only the beginning of a long yoga journey. But when you know that Peter is 75 years old today and has been doing yoga for more than 50 years and has learned most of the time in India with great teachers, you get an idea of how extensive this old knowledge is. Nevertheless, according to Peter, yoga is not about pure knowledge, but about practice and experience.
Everything in flux
The tradition of Anahata Yoga comes from the northern mountains of India. Adapted to the cold climate, flowing movements in the Vinyasa style were chosen at that time, instead of long held positions that would only let the body cool down quickly. This kept the yogis warm and the breath, which can also generate heat, set the pace for the exercises. The more advanced the experience, the more muscles have already been built up and the slower the movements can become over time.
The somewhat different ski gymnastics
I was surprised how well I was able to climb the mountains by bike after four weeks of yoga teacher training, even though I hadn't even ridden in that time. Especially the 5 elements, which are carried out in 18 flowing sequences, strengthen the middle of the body, the back and the legs - and by the way, they are the perfect preparation for the winter season for skiers and mountain hikers. Why 18 and not 108 sequences as usual in yoga? I have asked myself the same question, but the answer is simple. Originally, e were actually 108 figures that made up the five-element form, but let's face it: who can remember that nowadays when he goes to yoga once a week? So Peter has developed a shortened version from the practice, which in its complexity takes many hours, which is round and harmonious and takes the whole body into account.
The Five Elements Form of Anahata Yoga
In combination with classical asanas, the figures of the five-element form can be wonderfully integrated into any other form of teaching. But I especially like it when you practice them outdoors in nature, barefoot on grass wet from the morning dew, on a mountain or by the sea. In the best case all together. There is no better feeling than feeling yourself and feeling one with nature - of which we are a part and which we unfortunately often forget in our everyday life.
What are the five elements and what do they mean?
Western, Eastern, Greek...?
The 5 elements in the tradition of Anahata Yoga are the same as those used in Ayurveda (Ayus =life and Veda =knowledge) Actually only the four elements known in the western world, earth, water, fire and air, the element Akasha (ether/space) is added here. This is personally closer to me than the Chinese teaching, which is based on the elements earth, metal, water, wood and fire. Here I literally lack the air to breathe.
The 5 elements in the Hindu tradition of Anahata Yoga are
Akasha
In an old text, the "Shiva-Svarodaya", Shiva explains this as the substance from which our universe was formed. It is also often used as another word ether or (world-) space). So the greater whole in which we are. In the spiritual understanding this is certainly also the "space" of what we can hardly imagine. Because anyone who has ever compared the dimension of the universe with its actually tangible and "graspable" environment knows that he knows nothing, so to speak. It quickly becomes clear to us again why we have to learn to open our minds if we do not want to limit ourselves by the limitations of our own imagination.
Air
The element of air is said to have originated from that very Akasha, and we need it daily for breathing and urgently for our lives. Important for understanding is also the visualization of our chest. Enclosed by the protective ribs, here lie not only our lungs, but also the heart, which moves with every inhalation and exhalation and is given space. If our breath is shallow, not only we and our cells are insufficiently supplied with oxygen and the lungs are not trained and cleaned, but our heart also does not have enough space to "open" and expand sufficiently. According to the latest findings, our lungs are also partly responsible for blood formation. So we don't need much imagination to imagine what it means if we don't give ourselves the "necessary air to breathe", so to speak. The Anahata Chakra (Heart Chalra) is therefore also assigned to the element air.
Fire
According to tradition, the air was created from the fire, because it needs the oxygen for combustion just as we need the air to breathe. Physically, fire is associated with the region of the solar plexus, the Manipura Chakra. Those who know a little bit about Ayurveda know that it is often spoken of Agni, the digestive fire. Those who have heartburn will immediately see the connection here, because there are many reasons why something "pisses you off". But fire also has the ability to transform and we can not only "ignite" fire with our breath but also blow it out. We learn this from an early age with every birthday candle - even if the intention here is of course different.
Water
When hydrogen is burned, oxygen and water are produced - so perhaps this derivation of the formation of the element water can also be understood. Of course, water has other properties and is assigned to our body with the area of the pool bottom. This is where the bladder sits, with which we "urinate", but we can also move our hips "fluently". With its liquid aggregate state, water has the ability to "flow around" obstacles and avoid them. A skill that we also learn with the flowing figures of the Vinyasa style, in which the movements of the 5 elements are performed. This flow of movement is synchronized with our breath and lets Shiva "rise" during inhalation, while Shakti "surrenders" to him during exhalation. Therefore this form is also called the dance of Shiva and Shakti. "Everything is Shiva and Shakti, a game of opposites."
Earth
According to Shiva-Svarodaya, the earth was formed from water. This is very clear to me when I look at the vegetation and life on it. The earth is also the one on which we live - our "grounding", our base, which gives us stability and allows us to keep "ground contact". The earth is connected to the Muladhara Chakra, our root chakra. It gives us strength and is our "base". So people whose dosha is very strongly influenced by Vatta, i.e. has too much "air" in it, and who therefore have their head constantly in the clouds (even if only with their thoughts), would do well to develop a practice that gives them grounding and brings them back down to earth. With my strong Vatta imprint I know what I am talking about.
Anahata Yoga and the "Monkey Mind"
The anahata chakra is our heart chakra and the most important message of this form of yoga is that we ourselves are the creators, the creative ones. This means that we should stop looking outside ourselves and instead turn more to our inner self. For this we have to learn to love ourselves again, so that we can look at what is happening around us with an open heart and mind, instead of acting away from ourselves with a lack of empathy.
Opening your heart and mind and accepting yourself as you are is not so easy in a time full of uncertainty, overstrain, stimulus satiation and less and less space for retreat. Even nature, which we often have only a few steps away from us, we often only see on weekends. It is not only thanks to science that we now know far more about what drives us, motivates us, but also distances us from ourselves.
Peter Clifford, my teacher, with whom I am continuously training in the Anahata Yoga form, likes to talk about the "monkey-mind" that sits in our head and influences us continuously. This "Monkey-Mind", actually our subconscious, is influenced by the background we grew up with and our current environment. Often we don't even notice how much our actions and emotions are shaped by old beliefs and maybe wounds we have experienced in our lives. It is quite human that over the years we adopt certain behaviors with which we feel comfortable, even if the motivation for this is not always clear to us. Anahata Yoga helps us not only to physically open our chest more, so that we can breathe better, but also to open our heart and mind. For ourselves as well as for our fellow human beings.
What is love? Or: The dance of Shiva and Shakti
The following story, which describes one of the most important exercises from the Five Elements Form, fits the theme of love and self-love:
Shiva, who in this yoga tradition is worshipped as the first yogi (Adi-Yogi), rather than as God, as in other traditions, is thus also the first yogi to have passed on this teaching as a guru (teacher). One day his partner Shakti asked him what love actually is. As a good dancer he gave her his answer in the form of a dance and spoke to her:
"I want to join with you,
I want to open my heart for you - without any expectations,
I want to give you all my love - without any conditions,
I want to honour and respect this love - and never do anything that could harm it
and find the strength to love in this way."
How do I learn to love?
Shakti was very impressed and touched by Shiva's dance and his words and asked him how he had learned to love so deeply.
Shiva replied:
"First, I had to learn how to join with myself,
I had to learn to open my heart to myself - without expectations,
to be able to give myself all the love I need - without any conditions
and to honour and respect this love for myself and never do anything that could harm this love
"and be solidly grounded in my love for myself.
Why I have chosen Anahata Yoga
- Anyone can practice Anahata Yoga and the five elements form. Whether standing, sitting or even lying down.
- I can practice the 5 elements everywhere and I do not need a yoga mat. The most beautiful place is in nature - there I can "play" with the real elements.
- Anahata Yoga pays great attention to the balance between asanas (physical exercises), pranayama (breathing exercises) and meditation.
All three aspects are permanently represented. Physical exercise not only strengthens and invigorates through pure movement, but also through the appropriate breathing technique. The meditative aspect is immediately added when I recite a mantra, for example, to deepen the exercises. With this I not only get deeper into a stretching, but also regulate my breath automatically through the flow of the mantra and I concentrate completely on my practice. This automatically calms our mostly hyperactive mind and I experience an immediate calming effect despite sometimes sweaty practice.
What makes Peter Clifford a great teacher for me?
Basically I am certainly not the easiest student a teacher could wish for. I am critical, question many things, am chronically curious and want to understand things and conditionally, instead of just accepting them. In addition, I am not the most athletic, not the youngest and have comparatively little experience in Yoga. And as soon as something becomes too esoteric, I become sceptical. I would like to make a distinction between esoteric and spiritual - but maybe more about that another time.
What fascinated me about Peter from the very beginning
His charisma.
This man comes into the room and there is no other way than to have respect for him. Not because of his age, nor because of his function as a teacher, but simply because of his manner, which makes him radiate infinite gentleness and determination in equal measure. He treats everyone with kindness and obvious love without using many words. Even when he is obviously annoyed by something (and he does not call himself "Pitta-Peter" for nothing - in other words, he is a true perfectionist in his demands on himself), he does not take it out on his counterpart, but remains calm but determined. Here alone I could learn a lot from him.
His intuition and his knowledge of human nature.
Peter not only senses what his students are like when he enters the room, but he also knows how to react and adapts his lessons accordingly. If they are all lying lazily on the floor, you can be sure that he will wake them up. If the most diligent students are already jumping around before class, it will certainly be a little quieter until everyone is back in balance. With his empathy he quickly recognizes when a student is not feeling well and is always ready for a personal conversation to help with a few, but thoughtful wise words.
His teaching style.
Peter is basically well prepared for every class he teaches. One might think that a teacher of that age, with so many years of experience, doesn't need to prepare anything. Peter sees it differently. Not just because he is a perfectionist. He sees it as his responsibility that not only his students learn continuously, but also he himself. He researches and learns wherever he can. He works together with many scientists worldwide and continuously incorporates scientific facts and new knowledge. This is particularly beneficial to my curiously critical mind, as I have been working in the field of science communication and exhibition design for so long. He does all this with such a pleasant manner and voice that it is sometimes like a soothing, exciting audio book, where you can't help but automatically record the information that flows along. But since he knows that in fact only 10% of what we hear gets stuck, he constantly repackages this information and repeats it in the most varied form. So often I find myself listening to him and suddenly it "clicks" when one of the information I have heard so often has finally reached me and then usually stays with me.
His sense of humor.
You'd think with such an impressive teacher, you'd be dead serious. On the contrary. Peter has so many stories to tell that it's not unusual for us all to be lying on the floor laughing out loud. He loves to fool around and tease us - especially when we (compared to him) young "chickens" sink to the floor groaning with exhaustion after a few repetitions of an exercise and he happily reminds us that he used to have to do 108 repetitions of EVERYTHING - and none less. Nobody doubts that he can do this even today.
His indefatigability.
Even though Peter used to resist the idea that he should become a teacher himself, today he does it with all his heart and soul. He knows that even his time is limited and as the last Anahata Yogi of a few who have learned this tradition from very old teachers over many years, he does everything to pass on his teaching to as many students as possible. In every spare minute he works on his documentaries, which are so densely packed with valuable knowledge that they require truly intensive study. He works up old records and, sitting at the computer, often forgets to breathe for many minutes because of his concentration. At his age, if I can still bring half as much energy and passion to my work, I can be proud of myself. And please don't misunderstand this, because Peter looks like a maximum of 55 and is stronger and more agile than most of us at 30.
Photo Credit for "Peter on the beach" > @Daniel Lexander, Dubai
Information about courses by Peter Clifford > Website of Peter Clifford
And now everything again in two sentences
The heart and mind opening Anahata Yoga with the form of the 5 elements finds its playful expression in the "dance" of Shiva and Shakti. 18 flowing forms, which are performed standing up, offer an easy introduction for beginners. Advanced students can look forward to new perspectives.
Anyone who would like to learn more about it and learn the five-element form from me is very welcome. I am looking forward to you and will do my best to pass on my possible part of what I have learned so far.
At the moment I only give hours by appointment and this preferably outdoors in nature. If you are interested just call me or write me a message under +49.173.60 33 299