Pranayama, or breath work is the practice of focusing on, controlling and regulating the breath. Prana is life force - this is how we live, we breathe. So when we have a pranayama practice we are asserting a sense of control of the energy within the body, we can use this influence to encourage how we want to feel, so… how do you want to feel?
The practice of breath-work is beneficial in many ways which is why we do so much of it during our yoga classes at blok. We weave in these techniques to clear physical and emotional stagnation and blocks in the body, when we practice this regularly we make room for the prana (the life energy) to flow more freely through our system - we are able to make clearer decisions, we are less likely to react in a snap, we are more grounded, less stressed, we can sleep easier and increase our mood - sounds like a win-win to us.
Benefits of pranayama
reduced anxiety
improved sleep quality
better mood (we vibrate higher)
more clear in the mind
Better digestion
increased energy levels
Two breathing techniques you can do on your own, everyday.
Kapalabhati (a blok favourite)
For when you want to feel energised and clear minded
Elevate your hips by sitting on a block or a few pillows
Reach your arms up into a V and make cups with your hands
Take a normal breath in and a normal breath out and seal your lips
Take 50-100 short and sharp exhales out through the nose, snapping the navel back into the spine.
Hook the thumbs overhead and take 3 sips of air in through the mouth, retain the breath
Release the breath as you release the hands into your lap
Sit in the sensation for a few moments and then enjoy the day.
Left nostril breathing
To calm and soothe, great before bed
Take a normal breath in and a normal breath out and seal your lips
Close of your right nostril with your right thumb
Inhale and exhale slowly through the left nostril, sending the breath deep into the belly
Continue slowly for at least 10 rounds of breath