The follow of pranayama or ‘breathwork’ because it’s additionally recognized, is an integral a part of yoga, and one thing that has truly 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 respiratory and motion of prana than there may be in most trendy yoga books or lessons. The rationale? Prana means ‘life power’, simply as qi does within the Conventional Chinese language Medication context. The first yoga practices had been involved primarily with this movement of vitality above all else. Every thing we do from shifting to consuming, sleeping, socialising, and finding out has an impact upon our life power. And on the subject of respiratory, it’s a strong solution to work with prana.
While the UK Summer season generally is a little unpredictable, it’s possible we’ll all expertise a bout of steamy sizzling and humid days wherever you occur to reside. 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 somewhat extra prone to really feel sizzling and bothered, intensely pushed and centered, and customarily somewhat extra fiery than common. Utilising these particular pranayama practices not solely retains the physique bodily cool and balanced throughout sizzling 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 whenever you want them.
1. Sitali breath
Sitali means ‘cooling’ or ‘soothing’, and is a technique that will look somewhat 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 had been sucking air via a straw, maintain for a second then exhale slowly via the nostril. Proceed for a few minutes then drink a glass of cool water to boost the soothing results. In the event you’re not capable of 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 refined vitality channel of ida, the female nadi to the left of the backbone. Chandra Bhedana is particularly soothing for the nervous system, and is nice to practise within the night earlier than mattress, or if you happen to’re feeling pissed off or irritable.
To practise: Shut off the correct nostril and breathe out and in slowly via 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 priceless solution to domesticate a peaceful and quiet but centered and artistic thoughts. If in case you have difficultly meditating, this can be an efficient solution to get began.
To practise: Lie in your again comfortably and breathe slowly out and in via the nostril. As you inhale, really feel a cool white gentle travelling up the physique from the toes to the highest of the top. As you exhale, really feel the cool white gentle journey again down the physique. With every spherical of respiratory, think about the sensation of the cool white gentle calming, soothing and cooling your physique and thoughts increasingly more. Apply for 3-5 minutes and finish with the exhale returning to the toes to floor your self.
