YMSA - Yoga Meditation Studios Palm Beach - Nadi Shodan Pranayama

Nadi Shodan Pranayama

There are a number of Pranayama breathing techniques that are very beneficial for our body.  One that I have been using to help keep me grounded is the Nadi Shodan Pranayama breath.  It is also called Alternate nostril breathing. This is a very nice pranayama which can be used to clear the energy centres in the body. This practice also helps move the flow of energy/chi/prana through the meridians more effectively.

Nadi Shodan breathing helps balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain while

alternately exercising the left and right lungs. This simple practice clears the blockages in both sides of the airways, you may notice this instantly when transitioning from pranayama breathing to normal breathing.

Nadi Shodan breathing has other benefits also, this practice helps to wake us up, we become more alert and at the same time our body is able to remain calm and relaxed. This has obvious advantages especially because these days our lives are so kaotic and stressful, we find that we often feel run down and tired. It's helpful to know quick rejuvenating and balancing techniques to help us get through the day and our daily chores. 

Nadi Shodan is a quick and simple practice. It revitalises, helps us concentrate and think more clearly. We feel refreshed, more centred and better equipped to deal with any problems we may encounter. 

  

It is very easy to do, so everyone should be able to find 5 minutes during the day to practice it and experience the benefits for themselves.  

If you would like to learn how to practice Nadi Shodan pranayama you are welcome to contact us at YMSA Yoga Meditation Studio Palm Beach. Leave us a comment below, along with your details. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

Namaste
Lalita and Kimmie
YMSA Team

YMSA Yoga Meditation Studio Palm Beach - Bumble Bee Breath

Brahmari Pranayama
(Often taught in a Yoga Meditation class)

·      Humming or Bumble Bee Breath

If someone who wasn’t familiar with Yoga breathing practices walked into a roomful of people humming like a swarm of bees - they might start to worry or question the state of mind of people in the room.  I have to admit, I’ve had a little chuckle myself after glancing around the room during the practice of Bumble Bee breathing - the scene immediately brings a smile to my face. I especially love the vibrational energy it brings.  It sounds like a group of people omming and has the same relaxing effect.  It definitely lifts the mood in the room.

 

Humming Bee breath or Brahmari breath is a simple pranayama technique. The outward breath is directed to a specific area of the body, this breath vibrates internal and external areas of the body releasing tension. A person will also notice a reduction in stress, anxiety and an increase in the feeling of peacefulness and serenity.

What’s actually happening in the body is that the vibration stimulates the cells beneath the skin helping the blood flow rapidly into dry dehydrated muscles and tendons bringing fresh nutrients. This is helpful for regenerating and restoring organs for good health. 

When told about the health and meditation benefits of Brahmari breathing, everyone becomes very enthusiastic and wants to try it.  This technique involves vibrating the lips while expelling air and thinking “Om” at the same time.  Sounds difficult when reading about it but on a practical level it is ever so simple.

The areas that receive the most benefit from the practice of Brahmari breathing are the upper chest, throat and nasal passages. As the sound vibrates and moves through the body,  healing begins to take place in those areas.  

I have personally found humming Bee breath to be very effective in soothing and minimising the outbreak of cold sores around my mouth. When I feel one coming on, that familiar, annoying, tingling feeling around my lips - I practise Brahmari breathing.  

We all experience built-up tension in the body bought on by the stressful situations we face every day. Stress has an adverse effect on the immune system, however we can counteract this by practising Brahmari breathing. A person can calm their mind; ease anxiety, tension and frustration. This is a very effective practice which will help to quickly restore balance to your mind and body.  

A headache can be caused by lack of energy and blood flow through the shoulders and neck area. The gentle vibration produced by Brahmari breathing can help activate the body’s natural healing energy causing it to move and improve the flow of blood. The blood system transports nutrients and lubricants into tight areas of the body loosening built up tension.

 

This pranayama is another  valuable tool that we can add to our self help toolbox. You might find this practice a little unusual at first because of the “omming” sound the practice produces. But you will get used to it and even begin to really like the sound and find it to be soothing and calming. Like most breathing techniques because they calm the mind, the heart rate will slow down and this in turn lowers blood pressure. 

You can practice Brahmari breathing at the end of a long day when you need a little TLC.

Just find a  comfortable area for your practice and take a few minutes to unwind. Be kind to yourself, breathe slowly and deeply removing tension or stress in the upper areas of the body that need a little rejuvenation and revitalisation. 

If you want to try this before going to bed, this pranayama breath has been known to aid insomnia helping you to drift off and experience a deep relaxing nights rest.

If you would like to learn how to practice this wonderful pranayama you are welcome to contact us. Leave us a comment along with your details and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Namaste
Lalita

YMSA Team

YMSA - Mantra Meditation Studio Sunshine Coast - Amazing Animals

 Amazing Animal Stories

When this little chimp was abandoned by his mother his future looked grim.
But thanks to the unlikely intervention of a huge bull mastiff and her adorable litter of four puppies, his life was soon a lot happier. 

 

The chimpanzee was born at a Russian zoo and was taken home by one of the staff after it became clear he had not bonded with his mother.

By chance, her 100lb bull mastiff had just given birth and the dog was soon treating the new addition as one of the family.
Endearingly, the chimp soon seemed to think he was a puppy himself, bending double to eat from food bowls with his adoptive siblings. The puppies were also great to play with – and particularly good when the abandoned baby wanted a cuddle.

Wearing a big nappy, the cheeky chimp embraces its new mum, caressing her ears and looking very content as he takes a snooze against her furry belly.
In another photo the chimp holds an apple in its tiny hands to take a bite.
This chimp is now two and is reported to still be enjoying the company of its adopted canine family.

Animal behaviour experts say dogs are normally frightened of primates, however, this is not the first cross species adoption.

• In 2005 a newborn squirrel was discovered in Seattle having been adopted by a pregnant papillon dog called Mademoiselle Giselle. Incredibly the dog allowed the squirrel to suckle on her beside her puppies.

• The same year Owen, a one-year-old hippo, was taken in by Mzee, a 130-year-old giant tortoise, in a Kenyan zoo after the big baby was orphaned. The tortoise was removed two years later.

• Golden retriever Isabella adopted three white Bengal tiger cubs on a US ranch in 2008 – they were separated for the dog’s own safety when the big cats reached a year old.

If you would like to know more about our Meditation programs be sure to leave us a comment along with your details. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

Namaste
Vanessa and Rasa

YMSA - Yoga Meditation Studio Palm Beach - Viloma Breathing

 

Yoga Meditation

Viloma Breathing

Last week we blogged about Nadi Shodan breathing and all the great benefits we can experience through the practice of Nadi Shodan pranayama.

Another breathing technique that I love to use when I ‘just’ need a break is Viloma breathing. 

Again, just like with all other pranayamas, each breathing technique is priceless in that it makes you become more aware of your breath and particularly how you are breathing. Here in this practice we have the opportunity to direct the breath, control the mechanical process of breathing to increase the health benefits of our natural breathing our inhale and exhale. 

The practice of Viloma breathing requires that you to bring the breath down to the bottom of the lungs and then bring the breath up to the middle of the lungs. So, we are working the breath in stages.  It is also known as top up or staggered breath. 

 

Our lives are so stressful, we find that during the day tension and stress builds up in the body. When this happens we tend to breathe very shallowly into the upper part of the lungs.  Stress starts in the mind and the body takes the blows. Tension accumulates in the most vulnerable areas of the body, or where we have a tendency to hold tension and stress. Usually the neck, shoulders and head suffer.  The end result of shallow breathing is that the lungs take only a third of the breath it needs into the upper chest while the lower and middle parts are ignored.  Stagnant air becomes trapped in the lower areas of our lungs and has no way of moving out of the body. The only way we can get rid of this toxic air is through the practice of pranayama. We need fresh prana to circulate through the lungs in order to flush out all of the toxic, stale air.  This is very important because if stale air stays in the lungs this is not healthy for the body. The lungs transport air into the blood stream to revitalize and feed all of our cells, keeping the body healthy. The more fresh chi we can send to the blood stream the better off and healthier we will be.  If an ample supply of fresh oxygen prana or chi is not available to enter the blood stream we may become lethargic, tired and prone to sickness. 

Viloma breathing will gently remove tension out of the entire body, you will become aware of the release in the torso especially when you inhale and bring the breath in and down to the ribcage, abdominal region.  The shoulders will soften; releasing tension and the lungs will be stretched and exercised increasing lung capacity and also increasing strength to the lung muscle tissue.   Your parasympathetic nervous system will switch on and revitalise, re-energise and heal the body. The longer you are able to practice this relaxation technique the more benefits the body will gain.

I love to practice Viloma breathing before I go to bed at night. It is very effective due to the rapid way this practice relaxes the body. I calm my body, slow my mind down and reduce my heart rate while listening to yoga mantras that rest my soul and helps me to feel peaceful.  

I can’t think of a better way to transport the body/mind/spirit into a soothing, tranquil state before nodding off.

If you would like any more information on this topic (pranayama breathing) or yoga and meditation you are welcome to contact us. Leave a comment along with your details and we will get back to you as soon as wel can. Have a great day.

Namaste
Lalita and Kimmie

YMSA Team