Pranayama is the practice of controlling the breath. Mindfully, yogi’s manipulate the breath as a means of harnessing life-force. Without breathing, we cease to live. As the 4th limb of yoga, breathwork is seen as a fundamental stand-alone practice. The energy and vitality of life come directly from our quality of breath.
Just Breathe
Pranayama is an excellent centering practice. Commonly, awareness of breath is prompted at the beginning and end of most yoga classes. Again, although it is regularly used in asana, it is its own individual practice as well. Yoga classes just happen to be a great time to bring attention to it. The thing is, everyone breathes, all the time. However, it isn’t often that we are encouraged to remember or focus on it.
Yogi’s learn to use this vital tool with gratitude. Pranayama is the practice of honoring the breath, directing it, extending it, and more. First and foremost, you learn how to increase and optimize your capacity for air. Mindfully used, these exercises allow you to breathe more effectively. Learn to use your breath as a tool. In doing so, you can use different breaths to target various things, in a way similar to the prescription of asana. Some are explicitly for improved health, others for increased mental focus, and some designed for relaxation, among other uses.
A Whole Body Practice
Through breath, you can work and calm the mind, body, and emotions in many ways. It is through the breath’s relationship with the nervous system that yogi’s target, tackle, and often triumph common maladies. So, where do you start? Frequently, pranayama training begins with learning to extend the exhale. Fully expelling the breath trapped within the body that has grown stale. The idea is that, in addition to lengthening our exhale, the body will naturally increase the inhalation without much active effort. Expelling and restoring breath is a cleaning process. Through this work, you discover subtle connections of the mind and body. Then, in time, we learn how to master them for our own use. Here, we hone our abilities to direct and expand the air in our bodies. Pranayama is a practice with exercises the sublet body.
Breathwork Leads To Expansion
Using mantra as a part of your personal practice can be powerful. To review, different beliefs and practices surround pranayama use and implementation. If this piques your interest, try to find a local teacher to assist you. For now, explore with curiosity. Reflect on your path through practice and see what comes to be. Breath, Meditation, and Mantra are incredible tools for your personal training. For now, all you have to do is be. Be well.