
“ In the beginning was the word, but behind the word is an even greater power, The breath”
Pranayama is changing unconscious breath into conscious breath. Through the Practice of asanas, we condition the body to sit with the spine straight in order to stretch it, opening the chest and ribs, allowing more air in the lungs and to open the diaphragm. There are different asanas like back bends, forward bends that are helpful in this process.
Prana being our vital force, or life in the form of energy, and Ayama extending prana through the breath, we create a relationship with the breath which is the vehicle for prana to enter the body. Keeping our focus on the breath, and the body comfortable we aim to concentrate more prana within the body. As we link the mind and breath, our mind becomes quiet and ready for meditation. As we keep our attention on the breath, we learn to be able to feel it, to follow it, to direct it to a specific place in the body.
We breathe in prana, and we exhale Apana, both forms of prana are necessary, but they should be in balance with each other. Apana is refer to the lower abdomen and all the functions that take place there. It is that part of prana that has the function of elimination of waste matter. By practicing different Pranayama techniques we reduce these impurities and allow more prana in. During inhalation prana is brought in from the outside of the body and meets apana, then apana moves toward the prana.Holding the breath after exhaling moves the apana toward the prana, and holding the breath after inhaling moves the prana toward the apana.With the movement of prana and apana, we affect the agni or fire of life in our bodies. The flame is constantly changing direction, according to our breathing.
In practicing Pranayama we want to focus in the inhalation, the exhalation and retention of the breath. Kumbhaka pranayama focuses on breath retention, as we hold the breath after inhalation, after exhalation or after both. Rechaka pranayma is a form of Pranayama in which the exhalation is lengthened, while the inhalation is free.The most important part of Pranayama practice is the exhalation, since in yoga we are trying to eliminate impurities and reduce avidya.The exhalation is so important, because it transports impurities from the body, allowing more space for prana to enter. Not until we are able to increase our ratios of our inhales and exhales, we should practice more advanced techniques in retention.
Pranayama is changing unconscious breath into conscious breath. Through the Practice of asanas, we condition the body to sit with the spine straight in order to stretch it, opening the chest and ribs, allowing more air in the lungs and to open the diaphragm. There are different asanas like back bends, forward bends that are helpful in this process.
Prana being our vital force, or life in the form of energy, and Ayama extending prana through the breath, we create a relationship with the breath which is the vehicle for prana to enter the body. Keeping our focus on the breath, and the body comfortable we aim to concentrate more prana within the body. As we link the mind and breath, our mind becomes quiet and ready for meditation. As we keep our attention on the breath, we learn to be able to feel it, to follow it, to direct it to a specific place in the body.
We breathe in prana, and we exhale Apana, both forms of prana are necessary, but they should be in balance with each other. Apana is refer to the lower abdomen and all the functions that take place there. It is that part of prana that has the function of elimination of waste matter. By practicing different Pranayama techniques we reduce these impurities and allow more prana in. During inhalation prana is brought in from the outside of the body and meets apana, then apana moves toward the prana.Holding the breath after exhaling moves the apana toward the prana, and holding the breath after inhaling moves the prana toward the apana.With the movement of prana and apana, we affect the agni or fire of life in our bodies. The flame is constantly changing direction, according to our breathing.
In practicing Pranayama we want to focus in the inhalation, the exhalation and retention of the breath. Kumbhaka pranayama focuses on breath retention, as we hold the breath after inhalation, after exhalation or after both. Rechaka pranayma is a form of Pranayama in which the exhalation is lengthened, while the inhalation is free.The most important part of Pranayama practice is the exhalation, since in yoga we are trying to eliminate impurities and reduce avidya.The exhalation is so important, because it transports impurities from the body, allowing more space for prana to enter. Not until we are able to increase our ratios of our inhales and exhales, we should practice more advanced techniques in retention.