Pranayama
Pranayama is the art of breath regulation, which brings more oxygen to the blood and brain, positively affecting the vital life force energy called prana. Breathing is so simple that we often take it for granted, ignoring the power it has to affect the body, mind, and spirit. But when we give our attention to the breath, we find a multitude of positive benefits.
On the physical level, a regular pranayama practice can improve blood circulation, heart health, digestion, and immunity. With each inhale we bring in oxygen and spark the transformation of nutrients into energy. Each exhale purges the body of toxic carbon dioxide. When incorporated into the movements of a yoga practice, mindful breath helps to bring focus and a deeper level of awareness to each pose.
Breathing affects our state of mind by creating calm, improving sleep, memory, and concentration. We can practice longer, slower breaths prior to meditation to quiet any racing thoughts, making the sustained one-pointed focus of meditation easier to achieve.
With each cycle of breath, we connect our small selves, in our human bodies to the larger body of life - Mother Earth, and the cycles in nature of birth, death, and rebirth.
The ancient yoga practitioners developed many breathing techniques, which we gratefully continue to use today to maximize the flow of prana. Some of them include: alternate nostril breathing, three-part inhalation or exhalation, ocean breath. I look forward to guiding you on your journey of pranayama as you explore these and other breathing practices in our work together!
