slow vs. fast breathing

[Guest guest]

Alan is right in saying that the more proficient

one is at the practice, the less additional breaths

and rests in between postures are used. But if you

observe more advanced practioners, their breath is long

and slow. in particular it is important to try to

keep an even rythm throughout practice.<br><br>Some

people have naturally slow breathing, while others

breathe very quickly. Guruji's advice is "not to fast,

not too slow" - If you rythm is very slow, you may

need to speed up, if it is very fast, you may need to

slow down - but it is important to ask the advice of

your teacher if you have doubts.

[Guest guest]

Hi! (english is not my first language so sorry

for anything wrong!)<br><br>I've been doing Ashtanga

Yoga for about 2 years, but I've stopped a bit last

year (I gave birth to a wonderful baby girl)and I am

coming back to my practice, alone. Me too, I was

wondering about the breath lenght. I tried to do it with a

long, deep ujjahy breath (5 seconds insp. / 5 seconds

exp.) but when I saw Richard Freeman's video I notices

he does it faster, cause 5 breaths in this rhythm

would be 50 seconds for each pose, but he does the

poses for about 35 seconds each....even less sometimes,

like 15 seconds for each of the utthita hasta

padangusthasana serie. But in that D.Life's text in YJ, he

mentions that Gurujy says the breath should have the same

lengh during all poses ( I understood not to hurry up

in difficult poses). And what about savasana? Are we

suposed to do ujjahy breath during relaxation? Is there

an ideal time for savasana or does it depend on each

one, each day? <br><br>Thank you all for the answers I

hope can come to help me a bit.

[Guest guest]

As I understand it, we are supposed to work

towards an even breath tempo throughout the practice, not

breathing harder or speeding up during "difficult bits".

Nice theory, something to aspire to. Meanwhile, back

in this lifetime ...<br><br>I've noticed that a lot

of teachers will speed up the count in led classes

for things that students find difficult or strenuous.

Patthabi Jois, on the other hand, has been known to

deliberately count extra slowly at these times. Of course, led

classes are ok for workshops or for doing occasionally,

but they're not the proper way to learn the practice.

If you're learning through Mysore-style classes or

self practice, then you have to learn to regulate your

own breathing and not follow a teacher's

pace.<br><br>Definitely no ujayi breathing in savasana.<br><br>There's

nothing wrong with your English. (How many people here do

you think could write a decent message in your first

language, whatever it is?)

[Guest guest]

Happy birthday, Alan!!<br><br>40 more years to you of successful, satisfying and

rewarding astanga yoga practice! What will it be then in 40 years - 4th series,

5th series??