Pranayama

The primary tool for working with prana is the breath. Just as there are many and various movement practices for working with the body in a yogic way, so there are a multitude of breath work practices in Pranayama. The simplest, and possibly most important of these practices is breath awareness which involves holding the attention lightly on the flow of breath through the body without changing the natural rhythm of each breath cycle. This foundational practice sounds easy but do not be deceived Then there are practices for specific effects such as purification, calming the mind and extending the length of the breath cycle. Working progressively through the various breathing practices with guidance from an experienced teacher, we may in time learn to breathe in a specific way which guides us into meditation.

Early on in our practice working with the breath, we discover the direct relationship between our breath and the way that we feel, in terms of energy and mind state. This delicate balance needs to be nurtured appropriately and progressively. We also find that the breath cannot be forced or rushed and any attempt to do so will be counterproductive. For these reasons ratio breathing and Kumbhaka (suspending the breath) can only be touched on very lightly in weekly yoga classes. A fuller exploration of these practices works well in small groups and individual tuition. If you are interested to find out more, please contact me.