Breath of Life – Pranayama
Pranayama helps us to moderate this energy. Everyone hopes to enjoy a long, active and healthy life, free from disease. Therefore it is…
Common Pranayama Techniques for Yoga Class
Pranayama is often referred to as breath control, or yogic breathing. Pranayamas are beneficial in keeping the body healthy and free of toxins.
Intermediate Pranayama Exercises for Trauma Survivors
One round of Kapalbhati Pranayama consists of thirty quick inhales and exhales. Do three rounds of Skull Shining Breath and then pause to feel the effects of this powerful pranayama technique. Breath at a pace that is comfortable for you and be aware of feelings and memories that may arise during your practice.
Pranayama Exercises for Students to Increase Mental Clarity
Many Yoga students will benefit from a regular practice of pranayama exercises that increase mental clarity. As your thinking becomes…
Teaching Hatha Yoga: Prana and Pranayama
One Yoga teacher training intern remarked that prana could not be in his mat, since it was an inanimate object. After all, his mat was not a living…
Addressing Fear in a Yoga Class: Pranayama
In an ideal world, the idea of practicing Yoga solicits feelings of calm equipoise, energy and vibrant health. However, for many people the idea of practicing Yoga in the context of a structured class can bring up feelings of apprehension and fear. There may be any number of reasons for this apprehension. Some of these reasons include being physically or emotionally fragile. This sense of being physically fragile can come from being injured or in the process of healing from a surgical procedure.
Energy Cultivation With Pranayama
You can think of prana as “life force.” In yoga, the word “prana” is used, but the same concept is present in many forms of philosophy, religion and medicine that arose in the Far East. In Chinese medicine, it’s called “chi” or “qi.” In some forms of Buddhism, it’s translated as “energy wind” or “inner wind.” Regardless of what it’s called, moving, strengthening and cleansing our prana is one of the primary goals, if not the primary goal, of yoga, not to mention the goal of Tai Chi, Qigong, acupuncture, Reiki, certain forms of massage and certain meditative practices.
The Good and Bad of Bhastrika Pranayama
Although there are many advantages to Bhastrika Pranayama, it is not for everyone. If the temperature is high, such as during the summer…
Yoga Training: Bhastrika and Kapalbhati Pranayama
Kapalbhati and bhastrika pranayama are both Yoga breathing exercises that can help the practitioner improve lung capacity and manage…
Pranayama for Energy Cultivation
Another breathing technique which cultivates energy is Kapalbhati Pranayama (the skull-shining breath). This Yogic breath is effective in the purification process. The skull-shining breath implies a purification of the energy channels within the head. It helps to expel excess carbon dioxide from the blood. It also helps stir up mucous with forceful exhalations. This breathing technique provides more energy and can be useful if you are feeling tired and must stay awake as it can refresh you.