Hi Yogi's. In doing yoga, we want to breath to flow as fully, smoothly and naturally as possible. The most essential qualities of a balanced, sustainable, and conscious yoga practice are steadiness, ease, presence of mind, what the ancient yogis referred to as sthira, sukham, asanam. The basic yoga breathing technique - ujjayi pranayama - is at the heart of these qualities, giving us an abiding source of clearer self.
1. Begin by feeling the completely natural flow of the breath in your body, then gradually breathe more deeply without straining in any way.
2. Pay close attention to the complete flow of the breath.
3. Slowly expand your inhales, slow and complete your exhales, and feel the natural pauses in between without holding your breath either in or out.
4. Try to cultivate the same pace and sensation throughout each inhale and exhale, easing your way in and out of each phase of breath.
5. Let the light whispering sound of ujjayi arise naturally as you bring more awareness to the flow of the breath across your vocal cords, and see if you can maintain the consistency of that soft tone throughout your yoga practice.
6. Initiate your inhales from the sense of ease that comes about naturally when empty of breath, bringing that quality of ease with you as the breath slowly draws in.
7. Try to allow your inhales to first fill through your lower lungs (the lower third contains over 60% of breath capacity), then feel it drawing into your mid and back ribs, and finally feel it drawing up into your rising and spreading collarbones.
8. At the crest of each inhale, feel in that natural pause the full, expansiveness of your lungs and heart center, then gently ease your way into the exhale, noticing the tendency for the breath to rush out.
9. In slowing and controlling the flow of your exhales, feel your belly naturally contracting as the breath flows out, using this natural core engagement for stability without gripping at all.
10. Complete your exhale and feel the natural pause there before easing your way into a slow, sensuous, full inhale.
11. Stay with the continuous, conscious flow of the breath, consciously synchronizing it with movements in your body as you flow within and between asanas.
12. Paying attention to the sound and other sensations of the breath, use the breath to pay attention to how you pay attention, exploring your asana practice more and more as a meditation practice with the 'breath' your natural mantra.
.
1. Begin by feeling the completely natural flow of the breath in your body, then gradually breathe more deeply without straining in any way.
2. Pay close attention to the complete flow of the breath.
3. Slowly expand your inhales, slow and complete your exhales, and feel the natural pauses in between without holding your breath either in or out.
4. Try to cultivate the same pace and sensation throughout each inhale and exhale, easing your way in and out of each phase of breath.
5. Let the light whispering sound of ujjayi arise naturally as you bring more awareness to the flow of the breath across your vocal cords, and see if you can maintain the consistency of that soft tone throughout your yoga practice.
6. Initiate your inhales from the sense of ease that comes about naturally when empty of breath, bringing that quality of ease with you as the breath slowly draws in.
7. Try to allow your inhales to first fill through your lower lungs (the lower third contains over 60% of breath capacity), then feel it drawing into your mid and back ribs, and finally feel it drawing up into your rising and spreading collarbones.
8. At the crest of each inhale, feel in that natural pause the full, expansiveness of your lungs and heart center, then gently ease your way into the exhale, noticing the tendency for the breath to rush out.
9. In slowing and controlling the flow of your exhales, feel your belly naturally contracting as the breath flows out, using this natural core engagement for stability without gripping at all.
10. Complete your exhale and feel the natural pause there before easing your way into a slow, sensuous, full inhale.
11. Stay with the continuous, conscious flow of the breath, consciously synchronizing it with movements in your body as you flow within and between asanas.
12. Paying attention to the sound and other sensations of the breath, use the breath to pay attention to how you pay attention, exploring your asana practice more and more as a meditation practice with the 'breath' your natural mantra.
.
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