Guest guest Posted November 19, 2003 Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 Namaste parvati, I remember reading something in _The Guru and the Goddess_ about chanting shlokas with these pranayama counts that you mentioned (1:4:2, 2:8:4, etc.). Swamiji mentions that the main reason for chanting in certain meters is for pranayama purposes. I was wondering if anyone could tell what the procedure might be for the anusthup chandah, since this seems to be the most common meter. Say for example you were going to do 1:4:2 pranayama for anushtup chandah. Does this mean you chant 1 line while inhaling, then mentally chant the next 4 lines while holding the breath, and then chant the next 2 lines out loud while exhaling? Or alternatively can you chant the first 8 syllables inhaling, next 32 syllables holding, then the next 16 syllables exhaling? I guess I'm asking because it seems strange to chant while inhaling, then being silent, then saying some lines out loud. Any help with this matter is greatly appreciated, especially since I get the feeling that this may be a great secret to chanting properly...? AUM , "parvati_saraswati" <parvati_saraswati> wrote: > Dear Brian, > First, one question, what asan are you sitting in? There are five > different kinds of asans as described in the Devi Gita. > Next, Maa had the suggestion for you that you try to sit in a hot > bath or hot tub in an asan for 5 minutes and slowly increase the time > you can sit. She said to be patient and not to force yourself but it > will take time. She mentioned that hatha yoga would also be of > benefit. In terms of relaxing try pranayama. There are many different > ways to do pranayam. On of the ways Swamiji teaches pranayam is > following a cycle of 1:4:2 or 2:8:4, or 4:16:8, etc. Inhale a mantra > like om namah shivaaya for 1 breath, hold it for 4 saying the mantra > in your mind for 4 counts and then exhaling the breath for 2 while > repeating the mantra 2 times. When you are inhaling the belly fills > with air like a balloon and then you bring the breath up and hold it > then exhale following the cycle. > That is just one way. I also recommend that you talk with Nityananda. > He is very good at yoga and pranayama. He has taught me several > excellent postures specifically for sitting in an asan. I think it > one is called the "pigeon pose." He also knows lots and lots of good > pranayama exercises. > Hope this will help you a bit. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 19, 2003 Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 The 1:4:2 system of pranayam applies mostly to silent japa and meditation. When we chant in anusthup chandah, we inhale for one mantra or enough to bring in air for the number or shlokas that you will chant, and then you chant the shlokas. You will automatically take in the right amount of air to chant the shlokas. The real key is to keep the breathing regular for the entire duration. I'm sure that Parvati will add to this. Jai Maa , "Rolando Santos" <sivadancer> wrote: > Namaste parvati, > > I remember reading something in _The Guru and the Goddess_ about > chanting shlokas with these pranayama counts that you mentioned > (1:4:2, 2:8:4, etc.). Swamiji mentions that the main reason for > chanting in certain meters is for pranayama purposes. > > I was wondering if anyone could tell what the procedure might be for > the anusthup chandah, since this seems to be the most common meter. > Say for example you were going to do 1:4:2 pranayama for anushtup > chandah. Does this mean you chant 1 line while inhaling, then > mentally chant the next 4 lines while holding the breath, and then > chant the next 2 lines out loud while exhaling? Or alternatively can > you chant the first 8 syllables inhaling, next 32 syllables holding, > then the next 16 syllables exhaling? > > I guess I'm asking because it seems strange to chant while inhaling, > then being silent, then saying some lines out loud. Any help with > this matter is greatly appreciated, especially since I get the > feeling that this may be a great secret to chanting properly...? > > AUM > > , "parvati_saraswati" > <parvati_saraswati> wrote: > > Dear Brian, > > First, one question, what asan are you sitting in? There are five > > different kinds of asans as described in the Devi Gita. > > Next, Maa had the suggestion for you that you try to sit in a hot > > bath or hot tub in an asan for 5 minutes and slowly increase the > time > > you can sit. She said to be patient and not to force yourself but > it > > will take time. She mentioned that hatha yoga would also be of > > benefit. In terms of relaxing try pranayama. There are many > different > > ways to do pranayam. On of the ways Swamiji teaches pranayam is > > following a cycle of 1:4:2 or 2:8:4, or 4:16:8, etc. Inhale a > mantra > > like om namah shivaaya for 1 breath, hold it for 4 saying the > mantra > > in your mind for 4 counts and then exhaling the breath for 2 while > > repeating the mantra 2 times. When you are inhaling the belly > fills > > with air like a balloon and then you bring the breath up and hold > it > > then exhale following the cycle. > > That is just one way. I also recommend that you talk with > Nityananda. > > He is very good at yoga and pranayama. He has taught me several > > excellent postures specifically for sitting in an asan. I think it > > one is called the "pigeon pose." He also knows lots and lots of > good > > pranayama exercises. > > Hope this will help you a bit. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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