Posts tagged pranayama
Nadi Shodhana Pranayama
Also known as alternative nostril breathing, this article provides 12 great reasons to incorporate this ancient practice into your life.
No asana = no yoga?
The past week has been filled with great things: promising job interview, snazzy theater date night, Disneyland, beach and a Dodgers game. My sister, niece and nephew were in town and it’s been great to play and share time with them all. No regrets except one: I haven’t practiced yoga in a class-setting for a week. Weekly yoga used to be my norm; now it’s dreadfully inadequate. Despite my amazing week, I feel stiff and anxious.
While I haven’t been doing asana, that is the physical yoga poses, I’m still practicing yoga. My focus on breath to ease nervous tension in my belly is a subtle form of pranayama. Reacting with restraint to Disneyland’s Gepetto walking away from taking a picture with my 6-year-old niece when a man suggests we go first. Working towards acceptance of whether or not I receive the job offer that I want. Trusting that grace will carry my husband and me to where we ultimately need to be. This is all practicing yoga.
Of course, my pull towards asana will be quickly addressed. I actually did a lot of floor poses last night watching TV, and I will be off to a yoga class in just a few hours. While my physical practice aids me immensely - physically, emotionally and mentally - it is good to remember that yoga is much more than asana. Afterall, there are 8 parts to Patanjali’s 8 Limbs of Yoga. Asana is just one of the limbs, and it’s only #3!
Clearly, no asana does NOT equal no yoga. I’d love to hear how you practice your yoga when you are unable to practice asana. Namaste.
When the breath wanders the mind also is unsteady. But when the breath is calmed the mind too will be still, and the yogi achieves long life. Therefore, one should learn to control the breath.
