Awareness is the hallmark of Yoga. Any asana done without the awareness of how we are getting into the posture, staying in the posture and coming out of it, ALONG WITH how we are breathing in each of these stages, takes away the spirit of Yoga in the practice.
In one of the beautiful books on Yoga by Osho, the great master speaks of how the normal breath can be felt till a point that is just below the navel, the Manipuraka chakra. He goes on to explain that in Japan this point is called HARA and the warriors who were cornered or humiliated, would pierce this point with a short, thin and extremely sharp knife, doing which life would end almost immediately. It is said to be the most painless way to end ones' life. Hence the word HARA-KIRI came to being!
When we breathe the lungs expand and the diaphragm gets pushed down and in the process pushes the entire set of organs and intestines below. This is the reason why the stomach region expands and comes out when we breath in and contracts when we breath out.
The video below visually explains this very well
https://www.facebook.com/Surgery.AhmedJalil/videos/1273015322736628/
When we breath in normally, the Prana is felt right down to the Manipuraka Chakra (an inch or two below the navel). However this is just half the picture. When we breath out, if we notice carefully, the Prana bounces back to the Vishuddhi Chakra or the throat. If we breath a little deeper the breath is felt till the Swadhisthana (genital area) and when the breath goes out, the Prana is felt till the Ajna Chakra (Between the eyes). When we breath the deepest, the Prana goes right down to the Mooladhara and on breathing out, bounces back to the Sahasrara Chakra (Top of the head). When we work to breath as deep as this in our asana practice, the effects are deeply meditative. Most asanas can be benefited maximum when we breath right down to the Mooladhara and observe how the Prana bounces back to the Sahasrara,
The deep breaths and the diaphragmatic movements corresponding, give an outstanding massage to the entire digestive, endocrine, urinary, lymphatic and nervous systems. Doctor Yogis can add to this list if required!
Happy Yoga!
In one of the beautiful books on Yoga by Osho, the great master speaks of how the normal breath can be felt till a point that is just below the navel, the Manipuraka chakra. He goes on to explain that in Japan this point is called HARA and the warriors who were cornered or humiliated, would pierce this point with a short, thin and extremely sharp knife, doing which life would end almost immediately. It is said to be the most painless way to end ones' life. Hence the word HARA-KIRI came to being!
When we breathe the lungs expand and the diaphragm gets pushed down and in the process pushes the entire set of organs and intestines below. This is the reason why the stomach region expands and comes out when we breath in and contracts when we breath out.
The video below visually explains this very well
https://www.facebook.com/Surgery.AhmedJalil/videos/1273015322736628/
When we breath in normally, the Prana is felt right down to the Manipuraka Chakra (an inch or two below the navel). However this is just half the picture. When we breath out, if we notice carefully, the Prana bounces back to the Vishuddhi Chakra or the throat. If we breath a little deeper the breath is felt till the Swadhisthana (genital area) and when the breath goes out, the Prana is felt till the Ajna Chakra (Between the eyes). When we breath the deepest, the Prana goes right down to the Mooladhara and on breathing out, bounces back to the Sahasrara Chakra (Top of the head). When we work to breath as deep as this in our asana practice, the effects are deeply meditative. Most asanas can be benefited maximum when we breath right down to the Mooladhara and observe how the Prana bounces back to the Sahasrara,
The deep breaths and the diaphragmatic movements corresponding, give an outstanding massage to the entire digestive, endocrine, urinary, lymphatic and nervous systems. Doctor Yogis can add to this list if required!
Happy Yoga!
Amazing explanation Niranjan. The person who has mastered only can narrate so well. Happy Yoga you too:-)
ReplyDeleteNicely explained !! Will try to practice this while practicing :)
ReplyDeleteI loved this explanation. As a student new to Pranayama breathing techniques, I find this explanation very lucid and intuitive. Very nice, Niranjan....
ReplyDeleteSuperb,now I am understanding the deeper meaning of Yoga and the way forward
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