breath retention in yoga

[Guest guest]

 

Linda Callanan [shastra]

Monday, December 13, 1999 11:51 AM

RE: The Four Paths- Ramana Maharshi

 

"Linda Callanan" <shastra

 

Hello Harsha:

 

I am truly enjoying these posts. In the past few weeks I've had 3 different

people tell me that it is bad for the heart to retain the breath. I use

breath retention often in my pranayams have you ever heard anything about

retention and heart trouble?

 

Verses 19 and 20 are to this mind very important points if we could remember

these two there would be much less intellectual arguing (resulting often in

negative feelings). The difference between a mental image of "I am God" and

being 'One' can be subtle but makes all the difference.

 

Thank you for your generosity in sharing.

Linda

 

 

 

Nice to hear from you Linda. The intensity and extent of practice of yoga

and pranayama is in part a function of general health, age, and experience

in the area. The Hatha Yoga texts say that breath retention should be done

very cautiously. Swami Sivananda felt that 1 to 2 minutes was not a problem

but to go beyond that needs guidance. Some teachers say that one should not

go beyond 10 to 15 seconds or what one feels comfortable with. My personal

experience is that long term breath retention requires a lot of confidence,

knowledge, gradual practice and experience, and commitment to a particular

life style and diet. Breath retention has a direct impact on the heart, the

nervous system, and the brain and therefore should be approached with the

proper care. This becomes even truer if one is older and has not practiced

for a while. I used to retain the breath for three minutes or longer in my

pranayama practices without any problems. This is not suitable for most

people. Simple deep breathing and walking are probably the safest exercises

for most people and have great health benefits.

 

 

Harsha

[Guest guest]

Dear Harsha:

 

Thanks for your response and common sense approach. Except for 'yoni mudra'

the pranayamas that I work with do not retain the breath for longer than 15

seconds and I do find value in the retention especially with regard to 'low'

energy levels.

 

Linda

 

 

 

 

Harsha:

Nice to hear from you Linda. The intensity and extent of practice of yoga

and pranayama is in part a function of general health, age, and experience

in the area. The Hatha Yoga texts say that breath retention should be done

very cautiously. Swami Sivananda felt that 1 to 2 minutes was not a problem

but to go beyond that needs guidance. Some teachers say that one should not

go beyond 10 to 15 seconds or what one feels comfortable with. My personal

experience is that long term breath retention requires a lot of confidence,

knowledge, gradual practice and experience, and commitment to a particular

life style and diet. Breath retention has a direct impact on the heart, the

nervous system, and the brain and therefore should be approached with the

proper care. This becomes even truer if one is older and has not practiced

for a while. I used to retain the breath for three minutes or longer in my

pranayama practices without any problems. This is not suitable for most

people. Simple deep breathing and walking are probably the safest exercises

for most people and have great health benefits.

 

 

Harsha

 

All paths go somewhere. No path goes nowhere. Paths, places, sights,

perceptions, and indeed all experiences arise from and exist in and subside

back into the Space of Awareness. Like waves rising are not different than

the ocean, all things arising from Awareness are of the nature of Awareness.

Awareness does not come and go but is always Present. It is Home. Home is

where the Heart Is. Jnanis know the Heart to be the Finality of Eternal

Being. A true devotee relishes in the Truth of Self-Knowledge, spontaneously

arising from within into It Self. Welcome all to a.