How to do visualising for yoga?

[lmfao]

This is a question about visualising in relation to a/the body. For example, a kriya yoga exercise says to visualise prana moving though the spine. To do this, do I keep a vivid image of my body in my mind and then abstractly manipulate that image by having prana flow?

Or is this visualising done another way. The other way being that I visualise in tight relation to the physical body I am. So what I mean by this, is that I consider the physical location of my spine and the sensations within it in consciousness (theres also the location of your spine relative to your face), and manipulate my attention around that physical location?

Or are both these things done at the same time?

 

[pluto]

Learn to actually feel energy, believe it, know it, see it then visualization becomes easier because you are feeling it/projecting energy. Simple technique is close your eyes and focus on the center of your eyebrows and you will feel energetic pressure because you are focusing there. Do the same technique and visualize energy/light at the suggested locations.

What you focus on grows.

[lmfao]

Hm alright. Thanks for the advice. 

[Space]

10 hours ago, lmfao said:

This is a question about visualising in relation to a/the body. For example, a kriya yoga exercise says to visualise prana moving though the spine. To do this, do I keep a vivid image of my body in my mind and then abstractly manipulate that image by having prana flow?

Or is this visualising done another way. The other way being that I visualise in tight relation to the physical body I am. So what I mean by this, is that I consider the physical location of my spine and the sensations within it in consciousness (theres also the location of your spine relative to your face), and manipulate my attention around that physical location?

Or are both these things done at the same time?

 

I think I understand what you're asking, and the answer is the second one. Personally I visualise the spine as it is actually positioned, relative to my face/head. Rather than imagining a new entire body, from a side view for example, which I have done in the past but found it doesn't work. 

I've found that the most success when the visualisation is paired with feeling the prana moving up the spine as well. Both are equally important. Feeling the spine facilitates/helps the visualisation a lot. The feeling and the visualisation don't have to be absolutely perfect to reach a still mind, but of course the clearer they are the better. I still struggle with the down visualisation for some reason, whilst the in breath is sometimes nearly perfect. It just takes practise.

[lmfao]

@Space Yeah I usually do the second option. Putting my attention on my physical body in this way. But mental imagination is also important, like you say.

[FoxFoxFox]

@lmfao Visualization is good and fine, but it should quickly be replaced with an actual physical sensation. PM for a good book on the subject. 

[Space]

@FoxFoxFox My understanding is that not everyone has a clear physical sensation, even after years of yoga in some cases. I'd be interested in the book as well, unless its one of the ones on Leo's booklist.

[FoxFoxFox]

@Space PM and i'll give you the link once I upload it. It's a PDF file rather than an actual book (not piracy!).

[kieranperez]

Personally Prana, Kundalini, and Chakras are something I found is something I feel more than I have to visualize. 

Try guiding your awareness from the bottom of your spine and proceed from there. 

It starts out VERY subtle from my own personal experience. It’s like when you had that friend as a kid who would put his finger close enough to your neck you can kinda feel something. You don’t know if someone’s touching you, but you feel something miniscule. Slowly it starts to be more amplified.