The observe of pranayama or ‘breathwork’ because it’s additionally recognized, is an integral a part of yoga, and one thing that has truly existed far longer than the bodily postures. Pick 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’s in most fashionable yoga books or lessons. The cause? Prana means ‘life pressure’, simply as qi does within the Traditional Chinese Medicine context. The major yoga practices have been involved primarily with this move of vitality above all else. Everything we do from shifting to to eat, sleeping, socialising, and finding out has an impact upon our life pressure. And on the subject of respiratory, it’s a robust method to work with prana.
Whilst the UK Summer 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 means we’re all a bit extra more likely to really feel sizzling and bothered, intensely pushed and centered, and customarily a bit extra fiery than ordinary. Utilising these particular pranayama practices not solely retains the physique bodily cool and balanced throughout sizzling climate, but it surely additionally cools and calms the thoughts. Whether you’re working or on trip, indoors or out, these three practices are easy to make use of while 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. Much 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 have been sucking air by way of a straw, maintain for a second then exhale slowly by way of the nostril. Continue for a few minutes then drink a glass of cool water to reinforce the soothing results. If you’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 very soothing for the nervous system, and is nice to practise within the night earlier than mattress, or when you’re feeling pissed off or irritable.
To practise: Close off the proper nostril and breathe out and in slowly by way of the left nostril for 3 minutes. To improve the observe, visualise a silver crescent moon reflecting over cool water.
3. Pranayama With Visualisation
Adding visualisation to your breathwork practices is a precious method to domesticate a peaceful and quiet but centered and artistic thoughts. If you’ve gotten difficultly meditating, this will also be an efficient method 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 mild travelling up the physique from the toes to the highest of the pinnacle. As you exhale, really feel the cool white mild journey again down the physique. With every spherical of respiratory, think about the sensation of the cool white mild calming, soothing and cooling your physique and thoughts increasingly. Practice for 3-5 minutes and finish with the exhale returning to the toes to floor your self.