During Axis Yoga’s teacher training, students explore the application of various yogic prinicples to their daily lives. This particular student relates the prinicple of brahmacharya (celibacy) to his marraige. He adapts the principle to present day Western society, redefining brahmacharya as the “wise use of energy” and “control of the senses.” He explores how this principle can be used to create an intentional space of intamacy and connection with his partner.
Tag Archive for: celibacy
The primary question I had regarding this experiment was how brahmacharya could be practiced by yogis in the context of a married relationship. Although celibacy is certainly an option for married couples, it does not seem conducive to a more loving union, nor do I think it is a moral prerequisite for practicing brahmacharya. I feel that it is important to make an attempt in understanding the context in which Patanjali authored his aphorisms in order to understand this yama. It may also be important to investigate how the historical-cultural context of the Yoga Sutras, relate to contemporary western society.
Another matter of investigation is the universality of the Yoga Sutras. Many religious texts claim universality and timelessness in their teachings, yet they are colored with the culture and historical context in which they were born. I feel that Atha yoganusasanam must always emphasize the “now” to ensure the relevance of the text to our embodied experience. Therefore, forming a definition of brahmacharya is more than simply taking the transliteration “celibacy” as the only way to investigate this essential yama. Fortunately, I discovered that well respected yogis have enumerated upon brahmacharya from an integral perspective of ashtanga (e.g. B.K.S. Iyengar, Desikachar, Michael Stone). In simple terms, this means that brahmacharya is essentially about the wise use of energy and control of the senses. These explanations helped me develop ideas for the experiment which, inevitably, required the consent and creative cooperation with my wife.
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The Denver Yoga Underground began in 2003 at the request of dedicated students who wanted to study yoga as a holistic system. Over the years, a diversity of people, seeking education outside of a studio, found a welcome refuge in DYU.
Today we specialize in grassroots Pay What You Can workshops, accessible retreats and our signature yoga teacher training, for the outlier yogi.
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