The Light Yoga Space bringing Sivananda Yoga to North, East and Central London
100 De Beauvoir Road London N1 4EN | lightyogaspace@gmail.com | 020 7254 9697 | 07956 208 666 | 07812 982 858
The Five Points of Yoga
Yoga is not just an exercises routine but an entire lifestyle of physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being. Swami Vishnudevananda encapsulated the main essence of yoga in these five points:
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2. Proper Breathing
Why practice breathing?
Breath is life force without breath there is no life. We breathe every minute of every day, mostly unconsciously for survival. But conscious breathing can bring tremendous awareness and richness to life experience.
The yoga scriptures teach that the mind, thoughts and emotions are intricately linked to the breath. If we can control our breath we can control our own minds and vice versa.
A Yoga practitioner experiences a deep connection with body and mind through breath. Proper breath control can take a lifetime we practice daily and do our best and achieve many benefits.
The Problems of Shallow Breath:
Most people use only some of their lung capacity for breathing. They breathe shallowly, barely expanding the ribcage. This can create hunched shoulders and tension in the back and neck. Also emotionally we can remain quite disconnected through shallow breathing.
Meditation & Yogic Breathing
10-Week Course
Tuesdays 6-7pm
31st January-3rd April 2012
Click here for more information
Proper Breathing
The breathing exercises are called Pranayama. Prana means energy by learning to control our breath we are also learning to control the flow of subtle energy.
There are many powerful Pranayama techniques. In an Open Sivananda Class, we practice 4 main exercises.
Deep Abdominal Breathing
Deep abdominal breathing brings air to the lowest and largest part of the lungs. Breathing is slow and deep, and proper use is made of the diaphragm.
Full Yogic Breathing
The full yogic breath is a full body breath. Beginning with a deep abdominal breath and continuing with the inhalation through the intercostal and clavicular areas. A great way to slow down the heart rate and so calm the mind when stressed, tense or anxious.
Anuloma Viloma
(alternate nostril breathing)
In Anuloma Viloma we alternate the breath from right to left nostril and retain the breath in between. We inhale through one nostril to the count of 4, retain for 16 and exhale through the other nostril for 8. This exercise is balancing for the left and right side of the brain and increases energy levels, concentration and mental balance.
Kapalabhathi (pumping breath)
Good for cleansing the lungs of stale air and toxins. A stimulating exercise that brings plenty of fresh oxygen to the brain hence its name ‘Kapalabathi’ means ‘Shining Skull’.
