Hello Yogi Mind
Firstly I need to cancel today's sessions ... My daughter has come down with a gastro :(
I hope to be back on board next week, but please keep your eye on the Facebook page for updates.
April upon us and waiting for the usual cool to arrive. Have you felt a change of pace or call to action during the last couple of days? Weeks?
I like to check in with my wee personal practice to gauge how I am to govern the day before or behind. It's not always asana I go to, as time is often not on my side until late in the evening. My Yin shapes always find me, but a keynote speaker in my life is a little Pranamyam practice to balance the moments. Checking in with a gentle round of viloma or alternate nostril breathing or even simple bee breath.
I always sprinkle a breathing exercise into my sessions because I have such a love of the sublime euphoric feel it offers me.
I hope to spread and share that love so that you too can experience it's gifts. More on this in a bit, firstly though,
the B~HoP sessions started up :) Due to daylight savings wrapping up, the time slots felt a tad whacked. I'm hoping you feel more adjusted & are able to make it down for either an Hour of Power or the hour & half of Yin (B~Submerge)
**Reminder that the cost for Yin has
risen to $15 ($13 if you have a quality mat)**
Alternatively, for a short time, you can attend both sessions for $20. Fantastic offer! Two & half hours of yoga to submerge you into a brilliant head space for the week ahead. The perfect Yin/Yang offering.
B~Girls starts at the GreenHouse Eatery on May 10. Each Tuesday during School terms
4-5pm.
$95 per Term.
Please book in
FRONTLINE YOGA starting in May. Keep your eye out for posters around our community.
Finally, I'd also like to remind you that as the cooler weather finds us, the more we need to pop into our yoga bags for practice in the Community Centre. Soft props for Yin too.
As promised..
I'd like to share a little about Pranayama, the yogic art of breathing. Because sometimes in the thick of a practice we forget. It's nice to have a file to flick back to when you need it.
Prana is the Sanskrit word for 'life force' or 'energy'
Ayama means 'lengthening', 'extending' and 'expanding'. It also means 'controlling', 'restraining' and 'stopping'.
Therefore, pranayama conveys the art of controlling & lengthening the breath.
In yoga we perform Ujjayi Pranayama, a victorious or Ocean breath.
'Uj' or 'ud' means 'to expand' or 'to raise energy', which involves an element of power.
While 'jayi' means 'success' or 'victory'.
The yogic tradition teaches that if you learn to control your breath, this enables you to exercise control over your mind.
Ujjayi breath is performed initially through your mouth with parted lips, exhaling to the sound of "haah" {as if trying to figure up a mirror} and inhaling to the sound of "aah" {as if to draw in steam} which creates a sense of coolness and dryness at the back of your throat. Practice this. When you're comfortable with it, start the exhale and breath out to "haah". When halfway through the exhale, close your mouth and continue to exhale through your nose. Repeat the same process with the inhale: breath in to the sound "aah" and, halfway through the inhale, close your mouth and continue to inhale through your nose.
When your mouth closes, on both the exhale and the inhale, the sound continues internally. The sound you will hear will be glottal as it passes over the vocal chords in your throat. The glottis is the opening from the pharynx into the trachea (windpipe) which remains partially closed to produce the required sound during Ujjayi breath.
You can feel where your glottis is located by either swallowing or whispering (I always cue a whispering breath in class) If the passage through which your breath is escaping is narrowed, air will begin to enter more slowly (crucial for a steady flow of breath during asana practice), producing an audible hissing or ocean like sound, the same as when we whisper. By consciously narrowing the passage of your throat through which air is moving, you are able to extend and control the flow of your breath. The sound emitted needs to smooth, uninterrupted, and of uniform quality on both the exhale and the inhale.
If you already have a sweet Ujjayi practice you'll know that this control encourages the exhalation to be as active as the inhalation. The in- and out- breath should be of equal length. Equanimity baby, equanimity! Maintain that continuous rhythm without interruption.
So to wrap it up, reacquaint yourself with the benefits of practicing Pranayama, every single day ... Don't just save it for your mat time.
•longer inhalation & exhalation
•balanced in the flow of energy channels through the psychic body
•greater concentration & mental focus.
•a balanced flow of the in- & out- breath
•balanced nervous system
•increased heat & energy within your body
•stronger digestive system
•reduced heart rate, beneficial for those with hypertension
•reduction of anxiety
Next month I'll step you through Mahat Yoga Pranayama. (3 part breath) We practice this in both Yin & Yang.
So until I see you one Sunday on your mat remember to be aware of beautiful earth.
I'll leave you with my favourite piece of screen time.
Namaste
Peace
Shapes
&
Healthy gut flora ;)
--
Peace & Shapes
Lisette D. Kendall
@
B~Yoga
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