I have always been fascinated by the wisdom teachings of the east and how they awaken the potential of the human mind and body to heal itself. Mastering the Life Force energy that flows through the pathways of the body has been the focus of my life for over 25 years. I love to share how by learning how to breathe more efficiently, we create more space for this Life Force energy to flow, and therefor we create the potential to heal the body and transform the mind.
What instantly got me hooked was how quickly an overreactive mindset can switch to a more focused and concentrated state; a place of equanimity from which better decisions can be made. The secret to this lies in the EXHALE. When we are able to exhale for longer than we inhale, the level of carbon dioxide in the blood naturally increases. When we over breathe, in other words, when there is a focus on the inhale, not only does it disrupt the balance of the nervous system by putting your body into a stressful fight or flight response, but it also disrupts the chemical imbalance of each one of your cells. As a result, it has been proven to be the culprit of many chronic diseases. As we begin a slow stretch of the inhale, then a lengthening of the exhale, we complete less breathing cycles per minute, not more. As the exhale increases, the CO2 in the blood also increases, which results in the body becoming starved of oxygen. What's fascinating about this is that as a result of this process, the O2 molecules become dislodged from the cells to bring the balance back. In other words, we now have more oxygen not less.
The slow stretch of the exhale also allows for a fuller inhale, which in turn builds the value of CO2. This instantly has a calming effect on the mind and a balancing effect on the brain.
“Thousands of researchers have tested the effects of CO2 therapies on cardiovascular health, weight loss and immune function, and exposing the body to carbon dioxide increases oxygen delivery to the muscles, organs, brains and more. It dilates arteries to increase blood flow, helps dissolve fat and is a powerful treatment for dozens of ailments.” James Nestor, Author: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art.
All of our trainings place the breath as central to the process of Yoga. Evolve Yoga Training is built upon the knowledge and teachings of Kaivalydhama and Swami Kuvalyananda, who follow the undiluted principles of traditional Ashtanga Yoga by Patanjali, the revered yogic seer of the eighth century. Kaivalyadhama was founded with the distinct purpose of merging yoga tradition with science, to make this knowledge relevant and accessible to the world.