Yogacards and Yoga Videos - Pranayama |
Yoga Breathing Exercise - PranayamaThere are many different yoga breathing exercises. Some are mentioned below and links are on the right from yogapranayama.net. Begin all with correct posture (asana). Sit down cross legged on a cushion or something that will slightly raise you. This will reduce strain. Have the chest raised slightly. Do not collapse around the abdomen. With the head tilted down we begin to regulate and balance the breath. Ujjayi breathingUjjayi breathing is done by making a sound when you inhale and exhale. The sound "ssss" on inhalations and "hhhhh" on exhalations. Ujjayi Pranayama >> Instructions Exhale all the air out of your lungs. On the inhalation pay attention to the duration and the sound. The sound has to be smooth and constant. Exhale for a little longer than you inhale. Allow a gentle pause to occur between breaths. Do this on both the inhalation then the exhalation. Do this for the nest 10 minutes. Pay special attention to the sound during inhalation and exhalation. As a master musician tunes the instrument perfectly so should the yoga practitioner tune the breath. The body is the instrument. The consciousness and intellect are the player. Tune the breath so it is smooth and harmonious. Try to increase the length of both the inhalation and exhalation. If you feel out of breath reduce there time. If you are satisfied with there length you can progress to a 3 part breathing exercise and then a 4 part breathing exercise by introducing Khumbhaka (Time between breaths). Practice a lot first tuning the sound. Let progression happen naturally. The use of the Sacred Sound The use of the sound of Om is one of the most beneficial ways to tone and strengthen the diaphragm and is another very useful breathing exercise. If you suffer from any kind of breathing condition you will benefit considerably by introducing this practice into your daily ritual of healing activities. Create a humming sound on the exhalations. The mouth can be open or closed. Find a tone that vibrates through your body well. Different tones may have different effects but all will calm the nerves and clear the energy lines in the body. To find your perfect rhythm and sound look inside. Try to feel if the mind accepts the tone and the temples are without pressure. For calmness breath out but after exhalation rest and leave a little air in the lungs. This may be done if you are meditating and using the sacred sound. If you are practicing pranayama breathe all the air out of the lungs each time. It is also beneficial to know how the Koshas (Bodies or layers) apply to breathing exercises. First we must make sure that our posture is good. How is the skeletal frame in our body.This is looking at the first layer of the Koshas the Anatomical layer. Then we must make sure that the lungs have plenty of space to move. We must also look at how the above adjustments affect the mind. Is strain felt in the mind. The Third Layer of the Koshas the mind layer. It is the intellectual layer that is moving around between the Koshas or body layers. Almost like the puppet master using the element of ether or consciousness as its vessel. We look continually at the layers of Koshas throughout the breathing exercises. For instance how is the skeletal body affected or changed throughout the breathing. (The anatomical layer) Do you feel any pressure around the heart. (The Physiological layer) Is there any pressure around the mind during breathing exercises and if so which part of the breath affects which part of the mind? (Psychological layer) These Layers of the body must be seen and understood by the Yoga practitioner before they can allow the last layer to be embraced. The blissful layer. |
How to Sit in Pranayama Inhalation - Pūraka Exhalation - Rechaka Antara - Kumbhaka Baya - Kumbhaka SamaVrtti Pranayama VisaVrtti Pranayama Ujjayi Pranayama Viloma Pranayama Anuloma Pranayama Pratiloma Pranayama Bhrāmāri Pranayama Sūrya Bhedana Pranayama Chandra Bhedana Pranayama Śītalī Pranayama Śītakārī Pranayama Nādi Śodhana Pranayama Kapalabati Pranayama Bhastrika Pranayama Murchha Pranayama Plavani Pranayama |
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