Pranayama is the fourth step in the eight step path to enlightenment. Pranayama can also be used to calm or energize, bringing fresh oxygen throughout the body. If you’ve ever been curious about the breathing techniques of yoga, reading over some of the literature can be intimidating. Many of the techniques should not be attempted without supervision of an experienced teacher. Luckily, there are some exercises you can try on your own. The simplest is Sukha Purvaka Pranayama, which translates as “the easy breath that precedes all others.” Sounds nice, right? Here’s how:
- Sit with a straight spine and close your eyes.
- Take a few normal breaths, not trying to alter the breath in any way. You can continue like this for a few minutes.
- When you feel ready, begin the pranayama. Through the nose, breathe in for six counts, hold for six counts, exhale for six counts and the pause for six counts. Note that the exhale should be slow and even. The quality of the breath is the most important aspect.
- Repeat the previous step up to eight times.
- Return to your normal breath pattern. After a few minutes, open your eyes.
This breath can relieve everyday stresses, depression and even panic attacks. It also helps to bring your awareness and focus to the present moment. Of course, the breath should never be forced so if you feel uncomfortable holding the breath for six counts, shorten the pattern to whatever is most comfortable for you. This is about relieving stress, not adding to it!
Published by tampayoga
Rebecca, owner and Director of Palm Yoga, has been doing yoga since childhood as a way of coping with asthma and allergies. Over the years, she has developed an acute sense of body awareness and an interest in using natural therapies rather than conventional “Western” medicine. Upon moving to Los Angeles in 1997, she formalized her yoga practice and began teaching in 1999. Rebecca worked with several studios in the Los Angeles area and during that time participated in studio management, development of teacher training programs, as well as producing and marketing a beginners yoga video.
She has studied with many well known teachers from around the world including Kofi Busia, Rodney Yee and Erich Schiffman. Rebecca holds two teacher certifications, one from Planet Yoga Inc. and another as a Certified Relax and Renew restorative teacher by the foremost restorative teacher in the country, Judith Lasater. She continues to deepen her practice and teaching skills through participating in interesting workshops and training courses.
With Palm Yoga, she has taken technical and spiritual knowledge from all of her teachers and combined it with her own unique style of presentation to offer students a pleasing yoga experience. The studio welcomes students of all levels and strives to make everyone feel comfortable and open to learning and experiencing new things.
Whether you are looking for weight loss, stress relief or a deeper connection to life, Palm Yoga offers you a way to achieve your desired goals.
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As far as I know I did the sukha purvaka completely different. In india it is taught differently by the masters. I was taught to hold the right nostril with my thumb and to breath in the left nostril hold it with the finger and then exhale. Then I was to do the same with the right nostril.