Pranayama

Pranayama are specific types of yogic breathing exercises. In Sanskrit prana means not only breath but also lifeforce. The entire notice of the breath is tied in with the idea of life force and energy. From a yogic perspective, when a person regulates the breath one is essentially regulating life force. Pranayama literally means to extend or lengthen the breath. Although not all forms of pranayama lengthen the breath, the practise of pranayama helps to increase lung capacity thereby lengthening out the natural breath with time. 

There are many types of pranayama, which serve a variety of purposes. Some pranayama serve to balance the nervous system, others increase energy, while some inspire relaxation, or even help to expel toxins. Yoga for the Mind uses pranayama to help balance and regulate the nervous system. Additionally, Yoga for the Mind teaches pranayama that can increase energy or promote rest. During the entire asana practise YFTM suggests that students use a specific type of pranayama called ujjayi breath. This breath is akin to a deep ocean like sound in the throat. The reasons we practise with the ujjayi breath are as follows.

If you would like to learn how to practice ujjayi breath please click on this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqR_HSDXuEk

1) Ujjayi breath helps to bring breath down to belly.  Breathing into the abdoment promotes relaxation and rest.  Even if you are low on energy it is usually the result of being fatigued rather than relaxed.  Most of us whether we feel lethargic or anxious can benefit from deeper relaxation.

2) The noise made through ujjayi breath helps the mind to concentrate.

3) Using ujjayi breath makes it easier to extend the exhale breath.  When the exhale breath is longer than the inhale it helps to relax the system.

4) The ujjayi breath creates heat.  This helps to purify the system and the muscles. 

5) Ujjayi breath helps to tone the parasympathetic system making it easier to relax

In addition to ujjayi breath there are also other pranayama employed by Yoga for the Mind to help balance the nervous system and improve mood.

We use Brahmari, which is a humming breath.

This breath serves to create a feeling of joy.  Although no specific research has been conducted to qualify this fact, yogis believe that Brahmari also improves memory as it vibrates various parts of the head and brain.  Current research is being conducted on the influence of Ujjayi breath on Alzheimer's disease

We use Anulom Vilom or alternative nostril breathing.

Alternative nostril breathing helps to balance out sympathetic or activated energy and parasympathetic or relaxed energy.  It is also believed that alternative nostril breathing is able to balance the right and left brain. In his book Kundalini Yoga Meditation: Techniques Specific for Psychiatric Disorders, Couples Therapy and Personal Growth, David Shannahoff Khalsa speaks explicitly about research he conducted on alternative nostril breathing.  His research indicates that alternative nostril breathing actually balances the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

We use Kapalbhati, also known as skull shining breath. While not for everyone kapalbhati helps to greatly increase energy. For some of us this may be overwhelming. This breath should not be practised when one is already anxious. However, if one practises ujjayi breath before kapalbhati and than ujjayi breath afterwards this practise of relaxing increasing activation of the nervous system followed by relaxation will help to calm the nervous system and can have profound positive changes on the autonomic nervous system.

We use Dirga Breath.

This breath includes a three part inhale followed by a long exhale.  The main reason we use this breath is to help increase lung capacity.