August 24, 2022

What is pranayama?

Last post, we talked about prana… Let’s continue riffing on prana for a moment, shall we?

You have a direct experience with your life force and your prana through your breath. Every time you roll out your mat, walk your dog, ride your bike, or even sing alone in your car, you are pumping prana through your system (and by the way, you’re also practicing “yoga”) ;)

Pranayama is typically referred to as an intentional pattern of breathing, engaged for a specific period of time to produce a desired effect or outcome.

In sanskrit the suffix “ayama” means to lengthen, extend, or stretch. For the most part in a typical yoga class, we are looking to be in a continual relationship to our breath to expand the prana and lifeforce finding a rhythm with volume and length. Less of a controlling of the breath and more of an expansion.

This is a lifelong practice with many approaches that can support the nervous system, sleep patterns, and power in postures with a conscious breathing practice.

Learn, study, and practice many approaches to intentional breathing in your BEND classes.

Talk with your instructors about pranayama, and learn the benefits of concentrated breathing practice.

Take a video of yourself practicing pranayama, and post it on social media.

…Don’t forget to tag us @bendhotyoga :)