Breathing

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I'm a new member and I have a question. Could you please direct me to

a website that explains right nostril breathing, left nostril

breathing, and alternate nostril breathing and what the benefits are.

I can't seem to find a site that does this together. Usually it's a

description of how to do the breathing, but doesn't explain the benefits.

 

Thanks,

DeeDee

[Guest guest]

Hello Dee Dee,

 

I obviously know very much less about yoga generally than Sahaj, but

have spent at lot of time considering this particular aspect. Apart from

other effects such as controlling the nasal cycle and having an effect

on activation of the left and right brain halves supposed by some to be

possible, there is the effect of modulating an inhaling breath. This

seems to me to be the difference between yoga and western medicine.

Western medicine never recommends obstructing an inhale in any way

(although there is some modern research on the effect of a sniff on the

diaphragm), yoga has alternate nostril breathing and ujjayi.

 

The effect of this restriction of an inhale can, I think, be studied in

a simplified way by inserting a finger between your lips to leave a gap

around it. Then breathe in through this gap so that your cheeks are

pulled in a bit. You should then find that the size of the gap is

directly wired to your diaphragm. Narrowing the gap will intensify the

effect on it. Activation of the diaphragm leads to a pleasant sensation

and affects the mind. Of course one should stick to the authentic yoga

instructions. Unfortunately western yoga instruction is often based on

"belly puffing" in which one hand is laid on the chest and the other on

the abdomen and the belly is pushed out. This can be done without

breathing at all! Regards, Richard Friedel

[Guest guest]

Clover,

 

I could relate to what you shared about breathing. First of all, I did

Bikram's Yoga for over a year before I began to look at KY...so stamina and

flexibility are not so much issues although even so I have to work UP to the

full repetitions or time. I think if you get the breathing...the whole

process will unfold and you will let go....I think breathing is a letting

go. I don't think I really breathed much my whole life either...YES I can

imagine. It hit me back when I was at a seminar for brain function in

children and I heard that not getting enough oxygen can make you like forget

words...or not get words out..that happens to me (almost like a stroke

victim)...not as much now but if it does I KNOW I am not breathing...or

breathing real SHALLOW...like in the shoulders instead of into the belly.

And, the reasons that I have discovered are stress...and sorrow. It is

almost a weird way to AVOID really feeling those feelings I am avoiding.

It's really silly because when I do relax and allow myself to breathe...and

it truly is an allowing for me...I don't hold those emotions in my body and

I feel free..I can release them.

So, now if I go to the Yoga mat and find myself unable to breathe - yes it

happens - I just have to be patient with myself and keep it up...keep doing

it. Don't judge yourself for it...just be the observer and NOTICE that your

body is tight and where and try to let that tightness go..not so much with

EFFORT....but with intention.

Also, grounding helps me too...I notice that I am not breathing well when I

am not grounded...IN MY BODY. Because that is also something I do to

sort've escape in a way. Or, if I get too much in my

head..thinking...analyzing. So, you can stand...bend knees a bit..maybe

pull up those perinium muslces (what is that lock called?..like doing

kegels) and just sink down a bit and feel the energy of the earth come up

into your feet...feel connected and grounded...also try essential oils to

help (sandalwood for example).

 

hope this helps

Amy