Pranayama Practices – Breath Practices

My intention during the Pranayama or Breathing Practices is to help people to develop breath control. Control of the respiratory system requires gradual development because the body and mind need to adjust to the effect of extended breath and retention.

Breath control means altering

  • The length of time of inhalation, exhalation, and retention.
  • The profoundness of inhalation and exhalation
  • The strength or power of inhalation and exhalation.

There are 9 main forms of Pranayama or Breath Practices:

  • Alternate Nostril Breath ­– Nadi Shodana
  • The Cooling Breath – Sheetali
  • Hissing Cooling Breath – Sheetkari
  • Humming Bee Breath – Bhramari
  • Bellows Breath – Bhastrica
  • Frontal Brain Cleansing Breath – Kapalbhati
  • Swooning or Fainting Breath – Moorchala
  • The Psychic Breath – Ujjayi

To start the breath practices, it is necessary to begin the developing of the breath capacity. This is a preliminary stage that will help in the process. There are some practices that help in this regard.

These are the classical practices:

  • Deep breathing practice
  • Viloma – Interruption of the Natural Flow of Breath.
  • Rhythmic breathing
  • Kumbhaka – Breath retention (internal retention, external retention, and spontaneous retention).
  • Equalizing the breath (The inhalation, internal retention, exhalation, and external retention are equal).

During my classes, I am committed to bring knowledge of Philosophy of the Life Force (Prana) and Breath Practices (Pranayama); relevant information about physiology of respiration and Breath Practices; poses or postures (asanas), gestures (mudras), and locks or binds that regulate the flow of Life Force energy (bhandas) relevant to Breath Practices (Pranayama).

My interest in teaching Breath Practices (Pranayama) is because the breath and the mind are connected. It is the most powerful method for emotion regulation that can be practiced by the non-professional’s person. Respiration is special in that it is not only powerful influence on psychology and physiology but also a body rhythm that is controlled voluntary. Breathing practices such as Alternate Nostril Breath, Bellows Breath and Humming Breath are used to heal and energize the body, to prepare the body for meditation and Psychic Breath is a meditation practice on its own and can be performed for long periods of time with great benefits.

It is important to know that Breath Practices need to follow the practice of poses or postures (asanas) because they activate the internal energies affecting the whole body.

On my blog, you will find a section on samples of Breath Practices to Develop Awareness of the Breathing Process. You may check it out.

You may contact me for further information to design classes accordingly to your level and/ or necessities.