Pranayama is the fourth limb of yoga. This is about breath regulation and retention. I personally have barely scratched the surface of this fine art. I like to learn about a few techniques here and there, but to me it seems like a whole other branch of yoga involving the lungs and nervous system more than the muscular system of the physical practice. It is instructed to be taught after one achieves awareness of their asana practice. Prana is life, light, magnetism, gravity, power, heat, vigour, electricity, vitality and Spirit. When breath and consciousness are steady and still, then the fluctuations of the mind (also known as monkey mind) can be quiet. Pranayama is a cleansing process on all systems of the body. In asana, you can see photos of all these amazing poses, that may or may not be achievable to you, but in pranayama, you don't have a physical aim to strive for. This is very much about an individual's own capacity (as it also is with asana, but we get in the way of ourselves a lot).

Pranayama is a tool used to steady the mind, and is a gateway to concentration.

So the breath... we are always breathing, but we don't often notice that we are. It is both voluntary and involuntary. The breath connection is the simplest way to connect to the Now. Purposeful breathing allows the nervous system to calm down, reduces stress, improves circulation, gives your organs a rest, and creates mental space by creating a sense of stillness in the mind. Time management is needed for productivity, and energy management is needed for happiness. Pranayama is energy management. Maybe we could say that being aware that you are alive and breathing is a prerequisite for happiness, not just intellectually, but spiritually.

The breath control techniques leads to inner expansion and is practiced through focused will. When we become so absorbed into our breath pattern with conscious slow inhales, holds, exhales and holds, we can watch ourselves unhook from the emotional rollercoaster that we ride every day. This is the best anti-stress medicine we have at our disposal, and it's completely free! A quote I remembered a lot to help me out of my paranoia states I was experiencing so potently in my mid 20's was "your breath will always help you." I have found that learning about breathing techniques is like delving into a new hobby with so much to learn and can seem overwhelming, but simplicity is key first and foremost. All we have to do is know that we are breathing in and know that we are breathing out and then pause for a bit between breaths. Other techniques are basically a variation of that.

Our nervous system, circulatory system and respiratory system are closely linked. Together, these systems seem to make one energy field in the body. Energy is a bit like water. It can get stagnant if there is no flow in or out, like a kink in a hose. As we witness breath moving through the body, and the awareness of the body being breathed, we can recognise that we are also the spirit within, so our light shines effervescently in Truth. We are our conscious state, not just our mental and emotional ride.

Reflect:

How does your breath affect your mind/mood? How does your mood affect your breath?

What do 3 slow deep breaths feel like for you?