Breath Work and Pranayama

 

Find you calm through these very simple breathing practices. You can sit or lie down whatever feels more comfy. The first is a ratio breathing exercise. You'll be breathing In for 4, holding for 2, breathing out for 6 and holding the breath out for 2. If the count feels too much just breathe in for 3 and out for 5 instead. Work up towards the 4:6 ratio with practice. Then relax into the moment and rest into your breathe as I guide you though a simple breathing meditation.

This breathing exercise helps to increase lung capacity and efficiency. Encouraging the breath into the different lobes of your lungs, lower, middle and upper lobes with the help of hand/arm movements. Feel the depth and the breadth of your breath (and your life) as you breath!

The Three Part Yogic Breath traditionally practiced at the beginning of a yoga class can really help you drop into the physical body and into the present moment. Learning how to breath Into the three regions of the abdomen, ribcage and chest to deepen and expand the breath and to bring a sense of calm wakefulness to the mind.

A breathing technique which expands the length of the breath and increases lung capacity. An interrupted (or against the grain) breathing technique where we add pauses to the in-breath first and then to the out-breath. Regulating the breath which helps to sooth the nervous system and find focus in your mind.

Translates to Uneven Breathing. An intermediate breathing technique to be practiced after you have mastered Sama Vritti Equal Breath (please see video). So make sure you have worked and become familiar with that breath first. Vishama Vritti is where we extend the exhalation to double the length of the inhalation to bring about a calmness and quietness of mind. We will work towards an inhale for a count of 4 and exhaling for 8 but please do stay with a length of breath that feels comfortable with you.
A short introduction to the importance of the breath and why we use it in meditation. Followed by a simple breathing meditation perfect for beginners.
A Pranayama practice to calm the mind and sooth the nervous system. Also known as Box Breathing or Square Breathing where we equalise the four components of the breath: the in-breath, the internal retention (holding the breath in), the out-breath and the external retention (holding the breath out). NB Please do not practice breath retention (holding the breath) if you are pregnant; or if you have High Blood pressure do not hold the inbreathe and for Low Blood Pressure do not hold the out breath.
A calming breathing technique which focuses the mind on the movement of the breath in the chest and the abdomen. Creating a 'See-Saw' effect in the body and a quietening of the mind.
Taking a breathing space, checking in with how you are feeling physically, mentally and emotionally in this moment without judgment. Bringing a focus to your breathing to calm the mind and to invite more presence into your day.
Use this breathing technique to find a little calm and to reduce the physiological feelings of anxiety in the body. It involves inhaling, holding the breath and exhaling for the same count in all three phases of breathing. See how it feels initially to breath for a count of 4, hold for 4 and then breath out for 4. If that feels too much then drop the count to 3. Or if it becomes really comfortable extend the count maybe to 5 or 6. Do what feels comfortable making sure the breath is always smooth and effortless not strained or forced. Continue this pattern for at least 3 minutes, longer if it feels good. Then come back to the natural breath to check in with how you feel. If you are pregnant, practise just equalising the inhale and exhale without the retentions (holding the breath). AlsoIf you have high blood pressure, lung, heart, eye or ear problems it's advised not to hold the breath after the inhale.
Alternate Nostril Breathing is a pranayama technique designed to purify the subtle energy channels (nadi's) in the body which are said to carry prana or chi (life force energy) around the body. The practice balances the flow of this vital energy (which is often imbalanced), through the ida (the left, or moon) and pingala (the right, or sun) nadis, as well as the flow of breath through the right and left nostrils which relate to opposite sides of our brain thereby harmonising left and right hemispsheres of the brain. This session will guide you through 3 stages of Nadi Shodhana the first two are preparatory stages using the turning of the head and hands to encourage or direct the breath from left to right, the final stage being the full practice where you physically close off one nostril to encourage the flow of the breath through the opposite side NB stay with the earlier stages if you have a blocked nose or sinus issues.