"Prana" refers to the life force or vital energy that exists in all living beings. It encompasses the breath, cosmic energy, and vitality within the body. "Yama" means control, regulation, or expansion. In the context of yoga, "yama" signifies discipline or mastery.
Therefore, "pranayama" can be translated as the regulation, control, or expansion of breath or life force.
“Pranayama’ does not mean inhaling and exhaling vigorously like a bellow. Like asana, pranayama is internal and very subtle. There is a break less continuity in the travelling of your awareness from the point of asana into the practice of pranayama.”
-Swami Lakshmanjoo
According to yogic teachings, our breath is linked to our mental and emotional states. By consciously altering the rhythm, depth, and pattern of breathing, pranayama helps in calming the mind, reducing stress, and improving mental clarity.
This practice also assists in preparing the mind for meditation by creating a state of relaxation and focus.
Pranayama is not about breath control; it's a means of connecting with the subtle energies within and around us.
In Japan, legend has it that an aspiring samurai soldier had a feather placed under his nose while he inhaled and exhaled. If the feather moved, the soldier would be dismissed and could not be a samurai.
Good Breathing is now widely considered light, slow and deep.
The slower we breathe the more time our body has to take oxygen from the air in our lungs which means we can breath more efficiently.
Your nose is your first line of defence for your respiratory system, it purifies, cools, and even pressurizes the air.
Breathing light, slow and deep, will help your body adjust to higher levels of co2 which means you will feel less out of breath and sleep better.
NADI SHODHANA PRANAYAMA
(breathwork exercise for you to try!)
Begin with a few deep breaths.
Take your Right hand and place your index and middle finger on your forehead on the 3rd eye area/ point between the eyebrows.
With your ring finger of the right hand gently close the left nostril and exhale through the right nostril.
Keeping the left nostril closed, inhale through the right nostril
Now release the left nostril and block the right nostril with your right thumb, exhale out through the left nostril.
Now Inhale through the left nostril, and then block the left nostril with your right ring finger, and exhale out through the right nostril.
This completes round one of Nadi shodhana. Continue the same pattern for each round.
Inhale through the right nostril, and then block the right nostril with your right thumb, exhale out through the left nostril.
Inhale through the left nostril, and then block the left nostril with your right ring finger, exhale out through the right nostril.
Continue to do the alternate nostril breathing. You can go on for 3 minutes or even 15 minutes!
Why Nadi Shodhana?
Nadi Shodhana is a breathing exercise which comes from the Sanskrit words Nadi, meaning “channel” or “flow” and shodhana, meaning “purification.” This technique aims to clear and purify the channels of the mind and body. Everyone can benefit from this technique.
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