Dive Deep but Keep Breathing
Pranayama
The 8 Limbs of Yoga place Pranayama at number 4. It’s a journey and a stepping stone on our evolution and improvement by way of our energy and our livelihood.
Our breaths are directly related to our emotions our energy levels and who we are. Without it put simply, we just would not be here!
If we could take conscious breaths more continually and stayed attentive to our breaths, would it help us to dive into how we are? Would it improve our well-being, our energy, our moods, our relationships and everything about us?
We talk about bettering our lives but do we? It really is as simple as diving deep into a breath work practice and continuing the practice on an ongoing basis.
Breathwork
It is said the breath is able to soften the most hardened of hearts, and when I hear this it makes me smile to think that we have the power and skills to change and develop.
The breaths being the bridge between the mind and body is our bridge. It’s the bridge to calming and energising us, the bridge to understanding who we are and not letting the mind take over. What happens when you’re upset and then you bring your focus back to the breaths – concentrate hard on them to get out of the sticky thoughts! We are not our thoughts – we are more than…
A regular practice will help you to not only feel better but to change you in a positive way – whether it’s by uplifting you or calming you. There is a power to the breath. Yoga as you know is not only asana – it’s a connection to movement with the breath, a focus of the mind on the breath and a journey inward of focus and connection to this moment.
The breath keeps us present in the moment – not in the past and not in the future! But living right now – there is only the present moment.
Practice and continue…
Yoga is not like receiving a piece of paper and thinking you’ve achieved something and then you let go. No, it’s continual as life is continual, we keep going, through injury and tightness and restrictions and sometimes we have time off but we notice that we don’t feel as flexible or strong or if we don’t do an activity or a job for a while we forget and have to learn it all over again.
So too with yoga if we don’t practice it, then we lose the skill of opening our lungs and lifting our chest and changing our energy and emotions.
We lose the mindfulness, we lose our connection to the present moment.
Pranayama
The fourth limb of Yoga, is about our vital life force – prana – the energy within us and out. It’s a change and shift in the energies within the body. The energy is stimulated and redirected. Let’s do some breathwork this week and let’s see how we feel from it.
Thanks to all of you for our lovely community.
Blessings and Namaste Lou xo
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When the breath wanders the mind also is unsteady. But when the breath is calmed, the mind too will be still, and the yogi achieves long life. Therefore, one should learn to control the breath. “
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Hatha Yoga Pradipika
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Thanks Louise for the great yoga class today. The different positions of the Downward Dog really stretched my back. (I can’t believe I’m saying that…as Downward is usually not my favourite). Thanks again Louise. X
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Janet – March 2022
Louise Eddy
Yoga Teacher & Owner
Louise is passionate about her practice and her understanding of yoga. Her journey in life has led her to study and practice yoga for the past 20+yrs. In the past 5+ years she has also focussed on Mental health and well-being and has actively been involved teaching classes in community and special needs areas with this focus.
She gives thanks for the knowledge that has been passed along from the teachers and students before that have paved the way for the journey of yoga as it is in the west. She teaches from her heart with gratitude and love. Om Shanti.
