This workshop + trainings every 3 month, is the opportunity to find out more about how to ‘untie’ the breath, how to release tension in the upper abdomen, to explore the cleansing practices or kriyas in more detail. An opportunity to fully understand how the breath becomes short and restricted and therefore contributes to our stress. As we understand more about how to liberate the breath we can begin to explore how the different Pranayamas work on the body’s energies, gradually improving one’s health and transforming CITTA ( the mind) , our "filter" to the outside world.
The path of Yoga usually begins with the practice of the physical postures, and then someone introduces the power of the breath and explains the wisdom around the channels (nadis) that the prana moves through. There are many nadis but the ones we directy access through the breath are the sun and moon (the Ha + Tha). These channels can be open or blocked, the ancient Yogis discovered the flow of energy through these nadis affect our moods and behaviours. With this knowledge we cultivate an awareness that this devotional practice is about cultivating a better relationship with ourselves, how we can get to know ourselves by understanding the behaviour of the mind ( chitta ) more fully. As we observe the negative patterns of the mind and the compulsive patterns of the ego, we become aware that Yoga can be seen as a practice of what we undo, rather than what we 'do'.
When we untie the breath, when we liberate it from any physical blocks we can begin to let go of the things that no longer serve us. We can let go of destructive thought patterns, let go of stress and tension and even the need to compete with others. When we are stuck in states of fear, the nervous system signals back to us that adrenals are on overdrive, our body is on alert and we need to slow down. When we learn how to manage the breath we are able to bring back the body’s innate power to switch from any anxious state to a more relaxed one. We begin to enjoy a slower pace, we feel like there is more time. The breath becomes our most valuable meditational technique and tool , the more we still the mind, the more we can feel more heart centred emotions.
Yoga is a process, a work in progress, a state; yoga is working on yourself. Yoga is the complete integration of the personality and the process of that becoming. These are just some of the ways I have explained it over the years. Naturally there are more. Paul Dallaghan
Pranayama has been practiced for thousands of years as a part of yoga. However, our understanding of it for practitioners has refined and evolved over the past 100 years, just as science has helped us understand much about how the world works. Much of this effort on pranayama, and on yoga in general, was begun by Swami Kuvalayananda as early as 1916. He was my own teacher's teacher and pioneer of scientific research in the field of Yoga. I am honoured to be able to share this living tradition passed onto to me by my teacher Sri OP Tiwariji.
These events are now held at Studio 17 Edgerton Road South Stockport SK45BR, there is a kitchen, outdoor quiet space and is very conducive to this more meditative and therapeutic approach to practice.
Plenty of free parking and 5 mins walk from Heaton Chapel Train Station
May the force be with you !
Please click the link to find out the contents for the Breath of Life workshop and how you can register for Further Training ( CPD ) for teachers certified by Yoga Alliance Professionals.