| Pranayama & Meditation |
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Pranayam is the practice of working with breath energy, also known as prana. This calms the mind and prepares the body for meditation. There are many different breathing practices, but deep breathing alone can shift our mood. When we are breathing deeply we can not help but to sit up taller and vice versa, when we sit up taller we naturally take a deeper breath. Focusing on the breath has a way of drawing us in and helping us to let go of what is outside. This is also known as Pratyahara or withdrawing your senses. You experience yourself through the body in asana and then yourself beyond the body in meditation. A great place to start is five mindful breaths everyday. Breathing in for a count of four and breathing out for a count of four. Both inhale and exhale are done through the nose. Carving out time to connect with yourself becomes an anchor in your life. Life will flow more smoothly around this time that you have scheduled with yourself.In times of groundlessness, life feeling out of control, you can remember your anchor and know that at your core you are grounded, you are calm. |