The follow of pranayama or ‘breathwork’ because it’s additionally identified, 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 fashionable 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 had been involved primarily with this move of vitality above all else. All the things we do from transferring to consuming, sleeping, socialising, and finding out has an impact upon our life power. And relating to respiratory, it’s a robust strategy to work with prana.
While the UK Summer season could be a little unpredictable, it’s doubtless 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 fervour – 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 targeted, and customarily just a little extra fiery than traditional. Utilising these particular pranayama practices not solely retains the physique bodily cool and balanced throughout scorching climate, but it surely 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 if 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 like animals do, this pranayama method 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 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. If you happen to’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 delicate 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 in case you’re feeling annoyed or irritable.
To practise: Shut off the proper 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 worthwhile strategy to domesticate a relaxed and quiet but targeted and artistic thoughts. In case you have difficultly meditating, this will also be an efficient strategy 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 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. Observe for 3-5 minutes and finish with the exhale returning to the toes to floor your self.
