The observe 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. Choose up a duplicate of the Hatha Yoga Pradipikaor Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha and also you’ll discover there’s much more consideration given to the specifics of respiration and motion of prana than there’s in most fashionable yoga books or lessons. The rationale? Prana means ‘life drive’, simply as qi does within the Conventional Chinese language Drugs context. The first yoga practices had been involved primarily with this circulate of vitality above all else. Every part we do from shifting to consuming, sleeping, socialising, and learning has an impact upon our life drive. And on the subject of respiration, it’s a robust option to work with prana.
While the UK Summer season generally is a little unpredictable, it’s probably we’ll all expertise a bout of steamy scorching and humid days wherever you occur to dwell. From an ayurvedic perspective, the summer time season holds the qualities of warmth, moisture, depth, transformation and keenness – all qualities of the Pitta dosha. This implies we’re all slightly extra prone to really feel scorching and bothered, intensely pushed and centered, and customarily slightly extra fiery than standard. Utilising these particular pranayama practices not solely retains the physique bodily cool and balanced throughout scorching climate, however 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 slightly unusual, however is extremely efficient. Very like 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 by way of a straw, maintain for a second then exhale slowly by way of the nostril. Proceed for a few minutes then drink a glass of cool water to reinforce 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 refined vitality channel of ida, the female nadi to the left of the backbone. Chandra Bhedana is very soothing for the nervous system, and is nice to practise within the night earlier than mattress, or for those who’re feeling annoyed or irritable.
To practise: Shut off the suitable nostril and breathe out and in slowly by way of the left nostril for 3 minutes. To boost the observe, visualise a silver crescent moon reflecting over cool water.
3. Pranayama With Visualisation
Including visualisation to your breathwork practices is a precious option to domesticate a peaceful and quiet but centered and artistic thoughts. You probably have difficultly meditating, this will also be an efficient option to get began.
To practise: Lie in your again comfortably and breathe slowly out and in by way of the nostril. As you inhale, really feel a cool white gentle travelling up the physique from the ft to the highest of the top. As you exhale, really feel the cool white gentle journey again down the physique. With every spherical of respiration, think about the sensation of the cool white gentle calming, soothing and cooling your physique and thoughts increasingly. Follow for 3-5 minutes and finish with the exhale returning to the ft to floor your self.
