MatChat with Mina Blair
Need a regular wellbeing boost? Then this podcast is for you! We know looking after our physical and mental health is more important now than ever, and talking openly about what concerns or worries us goes a long way to lighten the load. Hearing other people's stories gives us perspective and reassurance. So, every month I invite a guest onto the "yogamat" to discuss what they have learned on their wellbeing journeys. The intention is to leave you feeling uplifted and empowered.
MatChat with Mina Blair
The joy of the full breath - the gift of pranayama with Devdas
Apparently we breathe in and out about 22,000 times a day without thinking. It happens automatically, a bodily function we take for granted, along with the heart beating and the body digesting. But the ancient yogis discovered that there was much more to the breath when practiced consciously - what would happen if you paid attention when you breathed?
Who better to ask than Devdas, lead pranayama teacher at Akasha Yoga Academy, who has taught pranayama for several decades including 12 years in India. Devdas explains how conscious breathing benefits us on different levels:
- Physically - stretches the spine and chest muscles and calms the nervous system
- Mentally - stills the mind and prepares the body for meditation
- Spiritually - takes you within for a deeper connection to your inner being
The beauty of pranayama is that anyone can do it - the only entry requirement is to be able to breathe! We discuss how yoga asana and meditation get a lot of air time and rank high in popularity but pranayama deserves an equal seat at the table - it is in fact the bridge between the two practices. A trio that flows seamlessly from one into the other, combining to give you the full package, a powerful punch of overall wellbeing. What's not to like?
Find Devdas: Instagram: @devdassahaja, Facebook: Akasha Yoga Academy