Pranayama - The Practice of Breath

In this episode we discuss the forth limb of yoga - Pranayama. 

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:14

Welcome to Canny Stars Yoga. Hi, I'm Lisa, a lifelong given of yoga and diaveda, and the love of travel and discovering the sacred. Welcome through everyday life. Thank you for joining me as we call Yoga Philosophy, the eight lengths of yoga, the wisdom of Ayurveda, and the many stars of yoga practice that I've got as a background together. Whether you are here to yoga, I've been working this past for many years. This podcast has here to put out work gently, practically, and stoppedly. A gentle note before we begin, this podcast is offered for educational and inspirational episodes like it's not medical or psychological advice. Please always listen to your body and seek professional care with it. So take some time for yourself. Take a slow, steady breath in, and exhale arriving here with me. Hello and welcome back to our journey through the eight limbs of yoga. And in our last episode, we explore dasana, the physical practice of yoga, and how movement invites us to listen to our bodies with kindness and awareness. And today we move into the fourth limb, which is pranayama. And pranayam is often translated as breath control, but its meaning is even more beautiful than that. The word prana means life force or vital energy. It is the energy that animates us, the quiet force that flows through all living things. The word ayam means to expand, extend, or regulate. So rather than simply controlling the breath, pranayam is about cultivating and guiding our life force through conscious breathing. When you stop to think about it, the breath is extraordinary. From the moment we're born until our very last breath, it is always with us. We don't have to remember to breathe. Our bodies do that beautifully on their own. And yet the way we breathe changes with every emotion we experience. When we're anxious, our breath becomes quick and shallow. When we're frightened, we might even hold our breath without realizing it. And when we're calm, the breath naturally becomes slower and softer. And so our breath reflects the state of our mind. But something also remarkable happens in the opposite direction. When we gently change the way we breathe, we begin to change the way we feel. Our breath becomes a bridge between the body and the mind. And in many ways, it's one of the greatest gifts yoga offers us because no matter where you are, your breath is always available. You don't need to have a yoga mat. You don't need any special equipment. You don't even need much time. One conscious breath can begin to change your experience of the moment. And I often remind my students that we cannot always change what's happening around us. Life still brings challenges. We have unexpected conversations, moments of uncertainty, and we're always busy. But we can choose how we meet those moments. And often it begins with a breath. And this is something we now understand not only through yoga but through science as well. Slow, steady breathing helps activate our parasympathetic nervous system, often called our rest and digest response. It gently signals to the body that we're safe. The heart rate begins to slow. Our muscles soften and our minds become a little quieter. Thousands of years ago, the yogis understood this through direct experience. And today, modern research continues to support what they discovered. And for me, that's one of the beautiful things about yoga. Ancient wisdom and modern science often meet in the same place. And in my own classes, we always begin by arriving with the breath. The breath anchors us and it reminds us that this moment is enough. And an Ayurveda breath also carries great significance. When Prana flows freely, we often experience greater clarity, vitality, and calm. And when life becomes overwhelming, that flow can feel restricted. We may notice shallow breathing, tension, fatigue, or a busy mind. And simple breathing practices can gently restore balance. And one of the simplest practices, something you're already doing, just simply noticing your breath without changing it, without judging it, just observing. Is it fast or slow? Is it deep or shallow? Does it feel smooth or uneven? And that awareness alone is a practice of yoga. And as your practice grows, you may explore techniques such as three-part breathing or alternate nostril breathing. And each practice offers something different. Some calm the mind, some increase energy, some create balance, but they all begin with awareness. And that's the heart of pranaya. It's not about having the perfect breath and creating a relationship with your breath is the most important thing. Learning to trust it. Learning to return to it again and again. And the beautiful thing is that your breath is always here, even on difficult days, or when life feels uncertain. It patiently waits for you to notice it. To reconnect with it. And to allow it to support you. One inhale. One exhale. One moment of presence. And sometimes that's all we need. And before we finish today, I'd like to leave you with a simple practice for the week. This week choose one moment each day to pause for three slow, gentle breaths. Perhaps you begin before starting your car, or before you answer a phone call, or before you eat a meal. Or when arriving home and before entering your house at the end of the day. Just simply noticing your breath. And allow it to guide you back to the present moment. And just noticing how those three conscious breaths can change the way you meet the rest of your day. And may this week's practice bring you a little more awareness, a little more kindness, and a little more peace into your everyday life. And I'll see you back here next week as we continue exploring the wisdom of yoga, sending you lots of love. As we close today's podcast, thank you so much for spending your time with me. If you'd like to stay connected, you can find more yoga, meditation, Ayurvedic Wisdom at countingstars.com.au. And you can also practice with me in the video or online. You can find me on Instagram and Facebook at CountingStar Yoga and subscribe to the Counting Stars Yoga YouTube channel as we call sacred places. Until next time, take a breath. Move gently through your day.