December Weekend on Pranayama
The approach of winter feels like a good time to go inward, a form of hibernation, and explore the breath. It is both a way to become calm and find silence and quiet, as well as a way to scrub clean and open air channels that become challenged from being so much indoors and breathing indoor air with its dust, dryness and heat.
Learning again some of these practices shows me how much I need to practice and learn and gives me a glimpse of how deep the practice can become. I'm on further on the path than I was a year ago, and when I practice early morning it is rewarding. Challenges: widening the rib cage (though a sense of light soreness or exercise shows they have been worked over the weekend); working with my narrow sinus passages, small jaw and deviated septum.
I feel very familiar with ujjayi and bhramari, and vilomas are now clearer. Kapalabhati and Bhastrika I like and practice but have clues how to improve. Mula band and toning the pelvic floor is a very good reminder to me for regular practice. Nadi sodhana I have not practiced in many years and this was a much deeper reentry. Likewise Uddiyana bandha (didn't a teacher once compare it to a washboard or laundry machine?) By that time on Sunday, I felt hungry and saturated so it was hard for me to concentrate and focus. Something to work on. It helped after I went out to lunch with a few people and learned they, too, felt they were in deep water, which at least helped me then feel I was not over my head.
But noticing what is deeply challenging and even difficult shows there is more to explore and that yoga is a wide territory. That helps answer the question people ask about advanced training: How much more can you learn about yoga? There is still more to learn? Oh yes!
To do list:
I feel very familiar with ujjayi and bhramari, and vilomas are now clearer. Kapalabhati and Bhastrika I like and practice but have clues how to improve. Mula band and toning the pelvic floor is a very good reminder to me for regular practice. Nadi sodhana I have not practiced in many years and this was a much deeper reentry. Likewise Uddiyana bandha (didn't a teacher once compare it to a washboard or laundry machine?) By that time on Sunday, I felt hungry and saturated so it was hard for me to concentrate and focus. Something to work on. It helped after I went out to lunch with a few people and learned they, too, felt they were in deep water, which at least helped me then feel I was not over my head.
 |
| Great shirt! |
 |
| Blanket support II |
SHAT KARMA
neti nauli dhauti kapalabati basti tratak : that is in Hatha Yoga Pradikipa. I was missing one name….so here is the list !
PRACTICE
For those who dont get uddhiyana bandha and nauli then get it !
Gradually Kapalabati and Bhastrika up to a minute cycle then counter breath : ujjayi , long inbreath with antara kumbhaka. . repeat the cycle.
For ujjayi and viloma supine,, increase length gradually until the 4 parts are about a minute….try different ratio.
refine the seats. and explore the supports lying down…
Read again the sutra on pranayama in Patanjali ( sutra 48 to 52 , second chapter ) in BKS Iyengar , Edwin Bryant etc...
Comments
Post a Comment