YANA YOGA

Breath as Spirit 🌙⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The Sanskrit word for breath is Prana; that which gives vitality to air and animation to all beings ~ the vital life force.

In yogic physiology, Prana moves and is distributed along 'nadis', energy channels within the body that are non-tangible - that cannot be seen. The practice of channelling the flow and movement of the breath is called Pranayama, in which we are working with this part of the subtle body that sustains our physical and energetic systems.

The practice of Pranayama expands and directs this energy, integrating the physical body (Annamaya-kosha), the mind (Manomaya-kosha), and the spirit (Anandamaya-kosha) in a harmonious expression.

A Pranayama practice can be as simple as inhaling and exhaling for equal counts; this is called Sama Vritti. Try the little practice below - using a box as a visual guide to the breath.

Get comfy in seated position in which you can sit up straight, lengthening the spine and with room for the breath to expand through your belly, your chest and your ribcage. Allow the eyes to close.

Take the image of the box in your minds eye. Starting at one corner, inhale for a count of four, tracing along one side; pause for a count of four on the next side, exhale for another four along the third side of the box, and then hold for four at the bottom of the exhale. In this way we create spaciousness between the inhale and the exhale, and we can expand that to the spaciousness between our thoughts as the busyness of the mind is gently settled into stillness by the breath.

Continue for ten rounds of breath, and then release to breathe freely and naturally, observing and absorbing the effects of the practice. Once you are familiar with the practice, you can explore increasing the count to 6 or however long suits you.