Archive for January 4th, 2009|Daily archive page
Control of breathing = stress management ?
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: asana, breath, meditation, pranayama, stress, yoga
Leave a Comment wikipedia:
“Conscious control of breathing is common in many forms of meditation, specifically forms of yoga for example pranayama … “
” Several researchers have reported that pranayama techniques are beneficial in treating a range of stress related disorders, improving autonomic functions,relieving symptoms of asthma, and reducing signs of oxidative stress. Practitioners report that the practice of pranayama develops a steady mind, strong will-power, and sound judgement, and also claim that sustained pranayama practice extends life and enhances perception. “
two examples of pranayama are Anuloma Pranayama and ujjayi breath
When I started to learn pranayama I thought it was like a competition and the most important thing was to hold your breath until you became blue in the face. I pushed myself to the limits to become this superhero of breathing. I gave the yoga teachers some good laughs at least
Some say pranayama is the next big step after learning the postures and I would like to turn this around and say that the breath is the key to all postures . No matter who you are or where you are you can do pranayama . If you are in a wheelchair, in a hospital bed you can do breathing exercises and get benefits.
we have all heard the instruction “take a deep breath” when we are stressed about something. Try to notice how you breath when you are stressed about something and notice what actually happens if you follow the instruction literally.
I end this post with one of the hardest poses to master in yoga.
Review: The North of India and my sprint for enlightment
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 1998, ashram, himalaya, india, review, sivananda, yoga, yogi
Comments (1) I had been doing some evening courses with the Scandinavian School of Yoga and I had been fed the western view on yoga. What struck me in India was the strong colours, the smell in the air and the poverty that was so obvious. In all this poverty people were smiling in a friendly way and yoga seemed to be so many different things. I felt like a little ant and I was scared by all the people who tried to get me to stop in the streets and with the lonely planet in my hand I wanted to get to my target and reach enlightenment. Like every swede I wanted the train to be on time and I wanted the toilets to be clean.
My plan was to get to yoga niketan ashram and stay there for a while. Once there the place reminded me more of a prison camp with guards by the entrance and strict discipline all the way through. This was what I thought yoga should be. I struggled with my body and I was wet like from a shower after each session. One day we had ants and a lot of small animals in the bathroom and a women came from the managers house with what looked like an old DDT spraycan . After a little while all the small insects were dead and we did not dare to enter the room that day. For a reason I cannot describe with logic I was not happy with this place and from some other yoga practitioners we heard about a place called sivananda yoga kutir and we decided to give it a try.
The guy who greeted us in an informal and relaxed way at sivananda yoga kutir was the swami and he had a friendly sparkle in his eyes. It felt more like visiting a friend than being in a ashram. We really enjoyed the daily asanas and the walks in the countryside. The singing in the evening were spontaneous and a boy from the village was singing as loud as he could and I felt encouraged to sing and started to like it more and more. I felt like I could be myself in this place and I was really tempted to stay longer when the day to depart to Sweden came closer.
meditation at yoga kutir
Sivananda Kutir, Himalayas
At an early age I got interested in Buddhism and the prince who left his kingdom in the search for truth. How can I apply this story to my own life ? to be able to sit I took up the study of yoga. Is there a contradiction between yoga and science ? Sure we can get a theoretical understanding through books, but without the experience we are stuck. Why is it so hard to practice non-violence when the mosquito is landing on my neck ?
