Understanding the Basics of Breathing and Respiration Breathing involves the passage of air in and out of the lungs, and respiration involves the process of gas exchange between the lungs and the blood.1 During inspiration, the diaphragm contracts, the abdomen moves down, while the ribs expand and oxygen moves into the lungs.1 On expiration, the …
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The Goal of Pranayama One of the main goals of pranayama is to prepare the body for deep meditation, by withdrawing the senses form the outside world1. However, the effects of pranayama can be altered according to the desired result, via the influence of the breath on the physiology of the body. Thus, one can …
“Prana is the divine force of all function in the body.” Hello beautiful soul, I salute you from the most divine part of me to the most divine part of you. Together, we will be progressing through a series of articles dedicated to the topic of pranayama, one of my favorite topics and of extreme …
Chapter 1 – Concentration/Samadhi Pada – Part 18 Gaining Knowledge – Higher Truths, cont. – Yoga Sutras (1.49-1.51) Overview: Most knowledge is commingled with words or other concepts, and thus the knowledge of the object is not really pure knowledge. This is the nature of most of our experiences. Like other experiences, Samadhi, or deep …
Chapter 1 – Concentration/Samadhi Pada – Part 17 Gaining Knowledge of Higher Truths – Yoga Sutras (1.47-1.48) Overview: When the modifications of the mind are weakened, the mind is purified and takes on a crystal-like quality, as was previously explained (Sutra 1.41). However, Sutra 1.47 is explaining that after there is mastery of the nirvichara …
Chapter 1 – Concentration/Samadhi Pada – Part 16 Types of Engrossments, cont. – Yoga Sutras (1.44-1.46) Overview: Savichara and Nirvitarka Samadhis (engrossments) are similar the two previous Samadhis, except they are more subtle. The objects can be so subtle that they are undefinable by words. All these Samadhis are with seed, which means that they …
Chapter 1 – Concentration/Samadhi Pada – Part 15 Types of Engrossments – Yoga Sutras (1.42-1.43) Overview: When the mind becomes concentrated and the extraneous thought patterns begin to subside (as a result of the persistent practice of one-pointed meditation), the mind can then be not only concentrated, but also more thoroughly engrossed in the object …
Chapter 1 – Concentration/Samadhi Pada – Part 14 After the Mind is Stable – Yoga Sutras (1.40-1.41) Overview: Once the mind has been reasonably stabilized and clear (see yoga sutras 1.33-1.39), the process of Yoga can begin to deepen further. Once the deeper stages are reached the mind then becomes like a transparent crystal (sutra …
Chapter 1 – Concentration/Samadhi Pada – Part 13 Stabilizing/Clearing the Mind, cont. – (Yoga Sutras 1.36-1.39) Overview: The previous two sutras (1.34 & 1.35 – see pt. 12) were the 1st and 2nd of five specific “concentrations” that Patanjali recommended for stabilizing the mind. And we were reminded to become aware of the actual sensing …
Chapter 1 – Concentration/Samadhi Pada – Part 12 Stabilizing/Clearing the Mind – Yoga Sutras (1.33-1.35) Overview: Many teachers of meditation emphasize only one method. Concentrating on the breath is just one example. Some focus on a specific center in the body (chakra) or fixed gazing on some visual object (trataka) as outlined in sutras 1.33 …