The follow of pranayama or ‘breathwork’ because it’s additionally recognized, is an integral a part of yoga, and one thing that has really existed far longer than the bodily postures. Decide up a replica of the Hatha Yoga Pradipikaor Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha and also you’ll discover there’s much more consideration given to the specifics of respiration and motion of prana than there may be in most trendy yoga books or lessons. The explanation? Prana means ‘life power’, simply as qi does within the Conventional Chinese language Drugs context. The first yoga practices have been involved primarily with this circulation of power above all else. Every part we do from shifting to consuming, sleeping, socialising, and finding out has an impact upon our life power. And in relation to respiration, it’s a robust solution to work with prana.
While the UK Summer season could be a little unpredictable, it’s probably we’ll all expertise a bout of steamy scorching and humid days wherever you occur to dwell. From an ayurvedic perspective, the summer season season holds the qualities of warmth, moisture, depth, transformation and keenness – all qualities of the Pitta dosha. This implies we’re all just a little extra prone to really feel scorching and bothered, intensely pushed and centered, and usually just a little extra fiery than standard. Utilising these particular pranayama practices not solely retains the physique bodily cool and balanced throughout scorching climate, nevertheless it additionally cools and calms the thoughts. Whether or not you’re working or on trip, indoors or out, these three practices are easy to make use of once you want them.
1. Sitali breath
Sitali means ‘cooling’ or ‘soothing’, and is a technique which will look just a little unusual, however is extremely efficient. Very similar to animals do, this pranayama approach works by passing the breath over the tongue and cooling the physique from the within.
To practise: Curl the tongue and inhale the breath as if you have been sucking air by a straw, maintain for a second then exhale slowly by the nostril. Proceed for a few minutes then drink a glass of cool water to boost the soothing results. When you’re not in a position to curl your tongue, merely stick it out and really feel the breath passing over the tongue as you inhale.
2. Chandra Bhedana
This ‘moon piercing’ or ‘moon activating’ breath works on the delicate power channel of ida, the female nadi to the left of the backbone. Chandra Bhedana is very soothing for the nervous system, and is nice to practise within the night earlier than mattress, or should you’re feeling pissed off or irritable.
To practise: Shut off the precise nostril and breathe out and in slowly by the left nostril for 3 minutes. To reinforce the follow, visualise a silver crescent moon reflecting over cool water.
3. Pranayama With Visualisation
Including visualisation to your breathwork practices is a precious solution to domesticate a relaxed and quiet but centered and inventive thoughts. When you’ve got difficultly meditating, this may also be an efficient solution to get began.
To practise: Lie in your again comfortably and breathe slowly out and in by the nostril. As you inhale, really feel a cool white gentle travelling up the physique from the ft to the highest of the top. As you exhale, really feel the cool white gentle journey again down the physique. With every spherical of respiration, think about the sensation of the cool white gentle calming, soothing and cooling your physique and thoughts increasingly. Follow for 3-5 minutes and finish with the exhale returning to the ft to floor your self.
