What do we know so far about meditation from the two previous blogs: Meditation is not and Meditation is? That this practice which can calm the mind, and provide heaps of other benefits is not really meditation? We also discovered how ineffective we can be in explaining the word meditation and that it is futile …
Tag: pranayama
Meditation is Not
What happens when you type the word meditation in a search bar? A million hits pop up, each with a promise that theirs is the best description of this popular practice. So, where should you begin? Is meditation a technique or a practice? Is it something you do to the mind? Or is it something …
Viśāma Vritti Prāṇāyāma,
It is not stress that kills us, it’s our reaction to it. Hans Selye Stress. The dreaded word. Stress can be external or internal. Most of you are familiar with external stressors (work, family, trauma) or stress triggers. What would an internal stress threat feel like? Here is one example. Artist: Asha Parayanthal A Stress …
Rāja Yóga
"This is not intended to be a scholarly treatise on yoga philosophy; the subject is so vast that it would be presumptuous of me to try." Alice Christensen Echoing similar sentiments, I have used the words of the yogi-authors (see below) in this attempt to introduce you to Rāja Yóga. Type of Yoga The name Rāja …
Bhramarī Prānāyāma
Recently, I read an interesting article about bees in Slovenia. It was not about 101 of Apiculture or that beekeeping has grown in popularity in recent years or that raw honey and beeswax are much sought after products. It was about how that country has a time-honored tradition of using sounds of bees buzzing as a …
Pādadhirāsana, Breath Balancing Pose
Anyone remember the groundhog's prediction? On 02-02-2020 (a palindrome), Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his den at 7:25 a.m. to predict an early spring as the marmot did not see his shadow. This 134th prediction came on the same day as the presidential proclamation on suspension of persons posing a risk of transmitting the virus COVID-19 …
Preparation for Pranayama
Although first day of spring left us buried in snow this year, the only thing we can be sure of is that Mother Nature will prevail. She will arrive in all her colorful grandeur bringing with her a basket full of allergies for those privileged few. If you are one of those (un)fortunate people, this blog is …
nadi shodana – alternate nostril breath
Nādi Śhodana - alternate nostril breath Nadi Shodhana, नाडी शोधन प्राणायाम, is also known as Anuloma Viloma Prāṇāyāma, अनुलोम विलोम प्राणायाम. Simply referred as Alternate Nostril Breathing, it is a powerful breathing practice. Nadi, नाडी, is a Sanskrit word for ‘channel’ or ‘flow’ and shodhana, शोधन means ‘purification.’ The Nadis, channels that connect the chakras, energy centers are the psychic pathways within the human system. This pranayama technique …
kapalabhati – skull shining breath
Kapalabhati - skull shining breath Pranayama techniques may be categorized as: those that are heating (energizing or vitalizing) and those that are cooling (tranquilizing) those which are safe to learn from a book or a website And those that must be learned over an extended period of time from a qualified teacher. Kapalabhathi, कपाल भाति , belongs to this kind. Although …
Ujjāyī Prānāyāma- victory breath
Ujjāyī (उज्जायी), means "one who is victorious". Ujjāyī breath means "victorious breath. Also referred to as the psychic breath because of its positive effects on the mind. You might know it as ocean breath as the sound this breath makes is like the water gently lapping against the ocean shores. Seat This breath can be performed …
yogajivan 