1. The beginning

At some point in their lives many people cross paths with Yoga and either drop it like a hot stone, do a few lessons and then move on, or, as in my case, end up adding it to their tool kit of life.

 This blog is not about putting your foot behind your ear, it is about conveying the higher principle that:

 ‘Yoga can help you move from dysfunctional to functional and keep you there, especially when you need it most’.

In this blog I would like to share some workshop notes I produced to share with students, and then to deepen that, to allow readers to see beyond the rather less mindful yoga that is often taught in a commercial setting. To see the baseline of yoga and how it can help support and sustain YOU in the difficult times

This is where I take a deep breath in, we initially need to look at how people breathe. As a yoga teacher, one of the hardest tasks is getting students to not only breathe mindfully, with the flow of the body, but to actually use their lungs effectively and efficiently. It seems very patronising to teach an adult to breathe but it is amazing how a life of habit can affect the simplest of things.

Grammarly tells us: Breathe is a verb we use for the process of inhaling and exhaling. Breath is a noun that refers to a full cycle of breathing. It can also refer to the air that is inhaled or exhaled.

In yoga, breath and movement must be intelligently combined. Without the breath, yoga is no longer yoga, and with the wrong breath, yoga can adversely affect the body. Knowing when to inhale and exhale is imperative. There are golden rules of breathing that can be applied to all sequences and all styles.
Breathe deeply and effortlessly: The breath should serve as a guide in all movement. The moment the breath becomes strained or disturbed, the body has been pushed too far. The goal of any practice is to be completely comfortable and relaxed; to move and hold with deep, effortless breathing. Only then can one derive the benefits. If the body is under strain and tension, and the breath is adversely affected, the purpose is defeated—and it’s no longer yoga. Always use the breath as a guide.



Pranayama - not just the breathing exercises of Yoga:

Pranayama is the conscious awareness of breath and the life force that both energizes and relaxes the body. The term is derived from the Sanskrit, prana, meaning life force, and ayama, meaning extension. An extension here within the body but potentially outside for something akin to an aura. 

The vocabulary of Yoga can be a little confusing but I will try and remove some of that to make this as accessible as possible.



The above diagram reflects a simple lesson I would like you to try. The 'in' breath and the 'out' breath should be even. In your head you will need to concentrate and count, breathing 'in' 2, 3, 4...breathing 'out' 2, 3, 4... This will allow you to even up the 'in' and 'out', to ensure it is both equal and smooth. You will all have different counts, so very short 'in' 2, 3 - 'out' 2, 3 up to however long you are comfortable with but not to the point of discomfort. Overtime the length will likely lengthen but do not push it!

Kim Eng does a lovely video on Youtube called a Guided Breathing Meditation you might like to explore.

Simple? No, many people find this a challenge, so sit with it as a practice. You can raise your arms on the inhalation and lower them on the exhalation as an extension but get this basic concept right. Work with the breath and see where it takes you.

For those with medical conditions that affect the breathing such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD), you will need to seek medical advice as to the exploration of this exercise, be sensible, it is your body and YOU are the person who knows it best. This disclaimer should be heeded by all those reading, it may sound simple but YOU are the regulator here, work within your own ability and as we progress feel free to ask questions (below).