One thing that I have learned from yoga teacher training that
will stick with me for the rest of my life is that breath, or
prana, is LIFE! Taking time out of your day to be aware of
how you are breathing is critical in keeping away adverse
health problems. Breath is something that we often take for
granted and definitely need to be more conscious of.
Samantha Brown and myself wanted to present on a topic
that everyone can benefit from, so on July 16th from 6:30 – 7:30 pm we will be going over some
simple breathing techniques that you can use at home that will allow you to be aware of your
breathing patterns. There are many different types of breath in yoga that can be utilized for
different purposes: calming you down, energizing you, releasing energy, etc.
Breath should be tamed and shaped slowly, cautiously and not rushed. This is one of the
reasons why I fell in love with yoga; it is something that is not necessarily mastered, but can
always be improved upon. Proper yogic rhythmic breathing can strengthen the respiratory
system, soothe the nervous system and reduce cravings. As B.K.S. Iyengar states in Light on
Yoga, “As desires and cravings diminish, the mind is set free and becomes a fit vehicle for
concentration.” With discipline and regulation of breath, one can control the mind and still
constant movement. Imagine how many times your mind has been racing from the stresses of
life: work, money, kids, friends, family, social media. Taming that constant race in your head will
take time and we want to show you how you can tame it to get clarity and peace of mind.
There are many different types of pranayama, and we will be
going over several at our upcoming workshop, but one that I
want to introduce to you is a 3 part breath. You can do this
lying down or sitting up (if you are seated, make sure that
you’re lengthening through your spine and that your sit bones
are firmly and evenly grounded – you may use a wall to help
you). Place your right hand on your naval center and your left
hand on your chest. When you’re ready to inhale, first fill your
naval center, then your diaphragm, and lastly your chest area.
When you exhale try and release your chest first, then your diaphragm, and lastly your naval
center. Be aware of any areas where the breath may seem stuck or be more difficult (I tend to
struggle as I fill my chest area). Don’t place any judgements on this, just be aware. Try doing
this cycle 5 times. If you have trouble at any point, take a break. Being aware of your individual
breath is one of the first steps to controlling it.
Be sure to RSVP your spot to our upcoming workshop…we can’t wait to help you!