Pranayama

Today, I focused my practice on Pranayama. I've been struggling this week with not feeling well - low grade fever, stuffy nose, queasy stomach, blah, blah, blah.

I realized that my breathing was suffering from this. Laying back and working through various breathing exercises combined with supine poses really helped me feel revitalized. I was worried my nose would be too stuffy for it, but it didn't pose a problem.

The best part of tonight's practice was breathing while twisting from side to side, every movement synchronized to the inhales and exhales. I felt like all the stiffness from spending so much time resting was getting squeezed out of me, like wringing a wet rag. And the movement really seemed to increase the depth of my breath naturally, and I think that's exactly what I needed.

I'm still feeling under the weather - after all, yoga is not a cure all. But I am feeling much improved after my pranayama practice, and I think that's an awesome result.

Namaste

Does Yoga Have a Rule of 3's?

I ask, because today I burned my arm, on the inside below my wrist. I did a pretty bang up job of it too. It's salved and bandaged now, and as committed to my practice as I am, I'm not going to be doing any downward dogs today, that's for sure.

But here's what I did instead. I used yoga in a practical way. While waiting at the clinic, they told me to stop icing it, which really made my pain level spike. So I used pranayama (controlled breathing) techniques I've learned in yoga to help me through it. I laid on my back, and did a body scan, just like in yoga nidra, and then used breathing to work through the pain, and wait patiently. I envisioned breathing into the wound, with the healing power of breath swirling around the pain and helping me to heal. It was a very calming exercise, even if it wasn't really a formal practice.

What better way to practice yoga though, then to use what I've learned to help me in life?

Namaste