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Breathing to Equanimity |
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What is Pranayama? |
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Pranayama is the study of Yoga Breathing and the flow of energy that accompanies every inhale and exhale, expanding the sense of stillness throughout the body, allowing you to be more present and connected to others by finding balance between the body, the mind and the spirit. It is mostly a seated practice and can be practiced by anyone—if you breathe on a regular basis, you’re a good candidate! The Body Pranayama practice provides a great massage of internal organs as the diaphragm contracts and expands; it increases the flow of oxygen throughout the lungs and up into the sinuses; it helps you locate and then release tension and tightness throughout the body. Some Pranayama techniques are calming and cooling, some are balancing, and some are invigorating and energizing, allowing you to tune into what your body needs at any time and find a way to bring it into balance through the breath. The Mind A long-term Pranayama and Meditation practice calms the chattering of your mind, enhancing your abilities for concentration and more complex thought by learning how to bring the attention back to the breath whenever the mind begins to wander. In addition, increased oxygen flow to the brain will help you think more clearly! Yoga meditation also helps you learn to let go of incessant negative thoughts and self-talk, allows you to begin to visualize more positive, uplifting words, and opens the door for a more compassionate future for yourself and others. The Spirit Every one of us has stressful situations in our lives— whether you struggle with depression, grief, or any other emotional turmoil, a meditative practice can help you find the way to peace and calm. By learning to let go of our unending thoughts and learning to release physical tension we can find the metaphor for all this in our emotional and spiritual lives, too, finding the way to let go of emotional pain as we begin to experience the sense of connectedness that we have to others. This doesn’t sound like Yoga to me ... Pranayama & Meditation are vital components of a well-rounded yoga practice. Click here for an overview of the Eight Limbs of Yoga. Students usually sit on the floor, but may be more comfortable in a chair or a supported reclining position. Breathing techniques can be modified for any physical conditions or injuries. We use blocks, bolsters, and blankets to find suitable comfortable positions. |
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For information about Pranayama and Meditation Classes, contact: Patricia Gray 816-926-1045 pgkc256@gmail.com Sami Aaron 913-915-1971 samiaaron@beingontosomething.org |
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Pranayama … The Harmonious Breath Meditation … Finding Peace |
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A Moment Between Time By Alex Thompson Sweeping upward through the Chakras of consciousness and Need, want and desire - The internal white light - A cold blaze of the eternal Comes into focus,
Then leaps back behind the day-to-day. To hold it and revel in it Is probably the goal and not One to achieve in a day or a year. But there are cats to feed, bills to pay, dinner to cook.
Yet the light shimmers Behind my closed eyes, And I wait, breathing deep.
from My Tree Called Life, Writing & Living Through Serious Illness, Turning Point: The Center for Hope and Healing |