4 min read
This month we carry on with our focus first with the last part of the vayus which in yoga are the five main energetic forces that move in a specific direction to control bodily functions and activities. We look at the last vayu which is vyana the outward moving energy.
We will bring all the vayus together to feel how in turn they can bring a sense of harmony and balance to our energy and practice in yoga which is great recap if you missed some weeks.
Our breath, like our heartbeat, is the most reliable rhythm in our lives. When we become attuned to this constant rhythm, our breath can gradually teach us to come back to the original silence of the mind.
The second half of the month we will really take our attention into the breath in our practice and use movement with breath, release tension, stress and calm the business of the mind with breath to help to feel more focused and present.
The fourth limb of Patanjali’s 8 limbs of yoga is pranayama. These limbs are essentially a step-by-step framework for living with purpose and moving towards freedom from suffering. As you move through these limbs they also interconnect and weave with each other too.
Pranayama is the practice of controlling prana – life force energy, through the power of the breath. It is often said that the most important part of the yoga practice is not just the poses but the breath. The way that you breath in yoga matters.
As breathing is an automatic function we may find out of yoga we don’t tend to think too much about our breath. Simply bringing attention to our breath in and outside of yoga is an important thing to consider for our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
The practice of bringing attention to our breath helps to calm the mind, purify the body and balance the flow of energy within us. You can connect to this anytime you need to though intention and focus.
By learning to appreciate breath, we learn to appreciate life itself. The gift of breath is the gift of life. When we receive a gift, we feel gratitude. Through pranayama we learn gratitude for life and gratitude toward the unknown divine source of life.
Pranayama Part 2 - Yoga Breathing to Influence the Flow of Prana – Life Force Energy in the Body
Week 1 - Vyana Vayu
This is the last one in the series of the Five Vayus. The direction it moves to is outward and relates to all over the body. This vayu governs circulation and movement throughout the body. It moves throughout the entire body, ensuring that prana is distributed evenly to all parts. It governs the flow of energy in the joints, muscles, and nervous system.
Week 2 - Balancing the Vayus
This class will work to balance the five main vayus that we had looked at previously to help to regulate the flow of vital energy – prana through different directions and areas of the body. The vayus help us to tap into the lifeforce energy that flows through us. Working to balance the vayus helps us balance our energy flow and increase vitality. It is said when these vayus are in balance we can feel a sense of vitality, clarity and ease in our body and mind.
Week 3 - Yoga and Breathing to Energise
Poses that lift and open the chest are excellent for creating space and room to breathe while gently energising the body with prana. Practicing yoga while connecting to your breath has a positive effect on your energy and mood. Through yoga poses and breathing we can feel the flow of our vital life force energy and experience a subtle energetic awakening to the here and the now.
Week 4 - Body, Breath and Mind
in yoga we can use the body, breath and mind as a gateway to connect with much more open and expansive space within ourselves. Pranayama is the art of breath awareness and breath control. The breath is the bridge between the mind and body so what affects the breath affects the mind and the body too. In yoga we have the ability to move energy with the breath. The breath unites the force between the outer body – physical and the inner body - consciousness. Focusing on breathing in poses allows us to tap into the intelligence of the body and using the breath as a bridge to a calm mind.
Related Videos
Breathe & Relax Deeply
Breathing & Movement for Tension & Stress
Three Part Breathing
Alternate Nostril Breathing
This Month’s Music
Here’s a selection of the music that Vicky has been enjoying this month.
| Artist | Title |
|---|---|
| Nada Sadhana & Kevin Courtney | Opening |
| East Forest | Apana |
| Deva Premal | Gayatri Mantra |
| Edo & Jo | Om Namo Narayani |
| Jai Uttal | Sita Ram |
| Wah! | Shree Ram |
Recommended Books
The Power of Breath – Swami Saradananda
The Five Tibetans: Five Dynamic Exercises for Health, Energy, and Personal Power - Christopher S. Kilham