31–40 of 102 posts
It's interesting to see these modernization attempts for ancient wellness 'technology' that dates back thousands of years. I am, of course, talking about yoga, and more specifically -- pranayama. Otherwise known as the 'science of breath'. You don't have to believe in anything to practice different breathing techniques, and the results are absolutely there. I have met freedivers who build up their lung capacity stric…
It's interesting to see these modernization attempts for ancient wellness 'technology' that dates back thousands of years. I am, of course, talking about yoga, and more specifically -- pranayama. Otherwise known as the 'science of breath'. You don't have to believe in anything to practice different breathing techniques, and the results are absolutely there. I have met freedivers who build up their lung capacity stric…
You are now breathing manually.
I meditate a lot and I think you got me for a half a breath. Then I just “let the breath happen.” It’s pretty weird to be able to do that (I have only been meditating for a few months).
This is the one part I specifically struggle with one I am meditating and focusing on my breaths. They are never happening on their own but run in manual mode.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Can you suggest an intro to practicing pranayama specifically, as opposed to generic mindfulness or meditation?
first 3-7 years of intensive physical practices then only begin to investigate pranyama. https://shadowyoga.com/newsletter/pra%E1%B9%87ayama/ """ Clarity about the required procedures, the appropriate tools and their use will allow one to tread the path of self-cultivation with the minimum of setbacks. Confusion will result in the multiplication of these setbacks, and the accumulation of injuries and disappointments…
It's interesting to see these modernization attempts for ancient wellness 'technology' that dates back thousands of years. I am, of course, talking about yoga, and more specifically -- pranayama. Otherwise known as the 'science of breath'. You don't have to believe in anything to practice different breathing techniques, and the results are absolutely there. I have met freedivers who build up their lung capacity stric…
One breathing technique and why I think the some of the Yoga works is pretty simple. I am not sure if Yoga would reset the fight/flight response further. 4x4 breathing. It mimics deep sleep and presses the reset button on the sympathetic nervous system. This helps with anxiety a lot. The technique is simple. Breath in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds , breath out for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds. I notice I do tend…
I’ve been working on breathing through my nose more over the last few weeks. One area where I’m noticing improvement is better sleep. When I used to breathe through my mouth I would dry out my mouth severely multiple times during the night. This possibly reduced sleep quality because I would roll over to drink a glass of water whenever the dryness got uncomfortable. Maybe it was increasing dehydration, too. I resiste…
Curious how others work around this ? I understand there is a surgery that can correct a deviated septum , but surgery is always a last resort in my view.
You are now breathing manually.
What you are really saying is "changing your breathing is not worth the effort", and offering no evidence.
It's interesting to see these modernization attempts for ancient wellness 'technology' that dates back thousands of years. I am, of course, talking about yoga, and more specifically -- pranayama. Otherwise known as the 'science of breath'. You don't have to believe in anything to practice different breathing techniques, and the results are absolutely there. I have met freedivers who build up their lung capacity stric…
One breathing technique and why I think the some of the Yoga works is pretty simple. I am not sure if Yoga would reset the fight/flight response further. 4x4 breathing. It mimics deep sleep and presses the reset button on the sympathetic nervous system. This helps with anxiety a lot. The technique is simple. Breath in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds , breath out for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds. I notice I do tend…
There were a couple other things that may have helped. I wrote down my main source of worry, and considered it in depth, worst case, odds, how to recover, and it became clear that it's not actually an urgent problem.
Don't know which one had the greater effect, I did both at once. But I could feel the 4*4 breathing blocking a physical anxiety response in the middle of one happening.
I remember learning in high school biology class the physiological benefits of breathing through the nose. There’s a whole series of processes that go on in the nose — air filtration, warming, pheromone scent triggering, etc. that’s bypassed when we breathe through the mouth.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Agree! Pranayama and other yoga practices are very powerful and effective. It's very important to have an experienced teacher rather than trying to do it yourself. These practices can have very strong effects and can be misused. There is a lot of misinformation floating around. I recommend finding an experienced teacher in the Krishnamacharya/Viniyoga tradition.
What are the negative effects people get when they don't work with a teacher?
I had been doing a Viniyoga practice for 1 or 2 years. I do pranayama in my asana (the physical exercises) and at this time I was not doing a separate pranayama practice. My teacher changed the pranayama in my practice and I became ill as if having a bad flu and I had some nasty boils break out on my legs. In retrospect, I needed to do some detoxing before doing this type of pranayama. My teacher kept me away from doing that pranayama for one or two years. Now I can, and have, been doing advanced pranayama for many years with no issues. I do this mostly in my asana practice but I do have seperate pranayama practices that I can do as well.