The follow of pranayama or ‘breathwork’ because it’s additionally identified, is an integral a part of yoga, and one thing that has really 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 may be in most trendy yoga books or lessons. The explanation? Prana means ‘life pressure’, simply as qi does within the Conventional Chinese language Medication context. The first yoga practices have been involved primarily with this circulate of power above all else. All the things we do from transferring to consuming, sleeping, socialising, and learning has an impact upon our life pressure. And in the case of respiration, it’s a robust strategy to work with prana.
While the UK Summer time generally is a little unpredictable, it’s doubtless we’ll all expertise a bout of steamy sizzling 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 a bit extra prone to really feel sizzling and bothered, intensely pushed and centered, and usually a bit extra fiery than ordinary. Utilising these particular pranayama practices not solely retains the physique bodily cool and balanced throughout sizzling climate, nevertheless 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 if you want them.
1. Sitali breath
Sitali means ‘cooling’ or ‘soothing’, and is a technique that will look a bit unusual, however is extremely efficient. Very similar to 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 have been sucking air via a straw, maintain for a second then exhale slowly via the nostril. Proceed for a few minutes then drink a glass of cool water to boost the soothing results. In the event you’re not in a position to 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 power 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 should you’re feeling pissed off or irritable.
To practise: Shut off the precise nostril and breathe out and in slowly via 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 useful strategy to domesticate a peaceful and quiet but centered and inventive 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 via the nostril. As you inhale, really feel a cool white mild travelling up the physique from the ft to the highest of the pinnacle. As you exhale, really feel the cool white mild journey again down the physique. With every spherical of respiration, think about the sensation of the cool white mild calming, soothing and cooling your physique and thoughts increasingly. Observe for 3-5 minutes and finish with the exhale returning to the ft to floor your self.
