Sacred Breath

We had quite a great outcome to the Sacred Breath Workshop this past Saturday, but there were a few who missed it so I decided to post it here.

I began by reading from “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga” by Deepak Chopra and David Simon

Pranayama

“ Breath is the essence of life. You inhale for the first time shortly after arriving in the world even before your umbilical cord is cut. From that moment on you take approximately seventeen thousand breaths each day, which over a lifetime totals about 500 million breaths. In your final moment on this planet, you exhale for the last time; that breath defines the end of your life. Your breathing supports every experience you have from the time of your first inhalation to that of your last exhalation. Breath is life.

In yoga, the breath is intimately associated with prana, which translates from Sanskrit into English as  ‘primordial impulse.’ Prana is the primordial life force that governs all your mental and physical functions. It is the vital energy that animates inert molecules into self-healing, evolving biological beings. It is the primary creative power of the cosmos.

Learning to regulate your prana to calm, balance, cleanse and invigorate your body/mind is a poerful technique of yoga. Your breath integrates many layers of your life-your environment, your repiratory tract, your nervous system your mind, and every cell in your body. “

When breathing it is important that we allow our belly to expand as we inhale and allow the belly to sink in as we exhale. We keep the mouth closed and breath clearly through the nose if possible.

Ujjayi Breath

Inhalation and exhalation are both done through the nose. The “ocean sound” is created by moving the glottis as air passes in and out. As the throat passage is narrowed so, too, is the airway, the passage of air through which creates a “rushing” sound. The length and speed of the breath is controlled by the diaphragm, the strengthening of which is, in part, the purpose of ujjayi. The inhalations and exhalations are equal in duration, and are controlled in a manner that causes no distress to the practitioner.

Ujjayi is a balancing and calming breath, which increases oxygenation and builds internal body heat. The deepening of your practice is dependent on your focuse breath, so this breath should be used throughout your entire practice unless otherwise specified.

Nadi Shodena

Nadi shodhana, or the sweet breath, is simple form of alternate nostril breathing suitable for beginning and advanced students. Nadi means channel and refers to the energy pathways through which prana flows. Shodhana means cleansing — so Nadi Shodhana means channel cleaning. Benefits : Calms the mind, soothes anxiety and stress, balances left and right hemispheres, promotes clear thinking.
How to do it

• Hold your right hand up and curl your index and middle fingers toward your palm. Place your thumb next to your right nostril and your ring finger and pinky by your left. Close the right nostril by pressing gently against it with your thumb, and inhale through the left nostril. The breath should be slow, steady and full.
• Now close the left nostril by pressing gently against it with your ring finger and pinky, and open your right nostril by relaxing your thumb and exhale fully with a slow and steady breath.
• Inhale through the right nostril, close it, and then exhale through the left nostril.

That’s one complete round of Nadi Shodhana –

• Inhale through the left

• Exhale through the right
• Exhale through the left

• Inhale through the right nostril

Begin with 5-10 rounds and add more as you feel ready. Remember to keep your breathing slow, easy and full.

So Hum Mantra

So’hum is a form of meditative breathing, it is the natural mantric sound of the breath… it is a Sanskrit mantra signifying “I Am That”, which identifies the Self as one with the world (Absolute Reality)… So’ …… when you inhale… Hum …… when you exhale so… breathe.

The breath is an amazing tool that we alone posess. It is something that we can use at anytime and in any place. When we learn to control the breath we then can use it to better our internal and external worlds. If you have any questions about what was taught on Saturday or what you are reading today feel free to shoot me an email and I will be happy to help you along the path.

Namaste’

Sarah