Purna Yoga is a style of yoga designed to nurture your entire being – mind, body, and soul.
During Purna Yoga classes, you’ll learn tools intended to make you feel more at home and at peace in your body, helping you feel more alive and confident as you go out into the world.
In this article, we will learn about the benefits of Purna Yoga, what it is, and how to practice it. We’ll also be sharing a few of our favorite poses and online classes so that you can get started today!
Purna Yoga Definition
Purna Yoga is a style of yoga created by Aadil Palkhivala and Kundalini master Savitri to offer students something more than a form of exercise.
Purna Yoga was built on the foundation that we are far more than a body. We each have dreams, intuitions, careers, families, and lifestyles that make us unique. The aim of the practice is to give us the tools we need to connect more deeply to ourselves, feel more confident in our lives, and shine our light on others.
Classes are supposed to compliment who you already are and simply help bring it out of you.
Through breath and movement, you’ll be taken through a practice that welcomes your spirit and sense of self into your body. It’s all about loving and accepting yourself from the inside out!
Purna Yoga has four pillars:
- Asana
- Meditation
- Philosophy
- Nutrition and lifestyle
Each pillar addresses our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual being.
Benefits of Purna Yoga
As with any yoga practice, there are some general and some more specific benefits to practicing Purna Yoga. Here are just a few of the benefits you may experience.
A greater understanding of your purpose
By connecting to your sense of self, you’ll better understand what truly excites you and what your purpose is when practicing Purna Yoga regularly.
Feeling less stressed
Taking some time away from the stresses of daily life and onto your mat for a Purna Yoga class is a great way to bring attention to your inner self and relax.
A better understanding of nutrition
Purna Yoga is grounded in Ayurveda and the understanding that you can live a life filled with greater health and vitality when you eat according to your body type.
Feeling more positive
Practicing yoga regularly makes it easier for you to separate yourself from situations that might otherwise be upsetting or difficult. Instead, you can approach life more positively, react more rationally, and make decisions that align with who you truly are.
Greater healing
The purpose of Purna Yoga is to heal your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bodies. Through regular practice, you may begin to notice that you feel ‘lighter’ in general and less affected by past events.
When to Practice Purna Yoga
Purna Yoga is just as suitable for beginners as it is for more advanced practitioners. If you’re looking for a complete practice that nurtures the entirety of who you are, Purna Yoga might be the practice for you!
Purna Yoga Poses
Purna yoga poses include:
Merperson pose
This pose was invented for Purna Yoga and is wonderful for opening the hips and lengthening the spine.
Start in a seated position on your mat with your legs in front of you. From here, bend your left knee so that your left calf touches the floor and your left foot is drawn towards your left hip. Bend your right knee out to the side to bring the sole of your right foot towards the knee of your left leg. Turn your torso to the right, and gradually walk your hands behind you so that they are in line with your hips and about 30cm away from your lower back – you can move deeper into the pose if it feels comfortable. Gaze between the hands and breathe into your left side.
To exit the pose, walk your hands back round to the front and hug your knees into your chest before repeating on the other side.
Low lunge
Start in a standing position at the front of your mat. Exhale as you hinge at the hips and bring your hands to the ground, bending your knees as much as you need to. From here, step back with your right leg, then lower your right knee to the ground. Press into your hands to lift the chest and ensure that your left knee isn’t overhanging your left ankle. If it is, walk your left foot slightly forward. Bring weight into your hips and allow them to come closer to the ground. You might like to add blocks below the hand to make the pose more accessible.
To exit the pose, lift the back knee and step forward to bring both feet together and come into a forward fold before repeating on the other side.
Warrior I pose
Start in a standing position at the front of your mat. Take a step back with your right foot and turn your right toes out to a 45-degree angle. Bend into your left leg to stack your left knee over your left ankle. From here, engage your core and lift both arms overhead, palms facing towards each other and shoulder-distance apart.
To exit the pose, bring your hands to your hips and step forward with your right foot to bring your feet together.
How to Practice Purna Yoga
You can start experiencing Purna Yoga from the comfort of your own home by picking a couple of the exercises that we’ve described above or using one of the videos below. But if you’re a beginner, you might find it easier and more relaxing to follow the instruction of a Purna Yoga teacher.
Start Purna Yoga at Home
Check out these follow-along videos if you can’t make it to a yoga studio or simply want to try Purna Yoga out at home.
Cheri Demenna – Purna Yoga Sequence
PURNA – A Complete Full Body Yoga Class
45-Minute Purna Yoga Class
Purna Yoga FAQs
What Is the Meaning of Purna Yoga?
Purna, in Sanskrit, means ‘complete’ or ‘fulfilled’. As such, the practice of Purna Yoga targets your entire body – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
Where Can I Practice Purna Yoga?
If you can’t find a local studio that offers Purna Yoga classes, you might like to get started with one of the YouTube videos that we’ve shared in this article.
What Are the Four Pillars of Purna Yoga?
The four pillars of Purna Yoga are:
- Alignment-Based Asana
- Heartful MeditationTM
- Applied Philosophy
- Nutrition and Lifestyle
Important: Check with your doctor before trying Purna Yoga for the first time if you have any injury, illness, pain, or you are pregnant.