Breathing is life. It is one of our most vital functions. One of the Five Principles of Yoga is ‘Pranayama’, or ‘Breathing Exercise’ in Sanskrit, promoting the idea of proper, full breathing. In a Yogic point of view, proper breathing is to bring more oxygen to the blood and to the brain, and to control Prana or the vital life energy. Pranayama Yoga also goes hand in hand with the Asanas. The union of these two Yogic Principles is considered as the highest form of purification and self-discipline, covering both mind and body.

In order to begin to explore the practice of Pranayama, try this: Rest one hand on your abdomen and one hand on your chest. Watch which part of the body rises and falls when you breathe normally. The part that rises highest indicates the type of breather you are. Most people are either chest or belly breathers. If you use your belly, you constrict your chest, and vice versa. Our aim is to make both the belly and the chest part of the breath equally. Chances are you’re only at 50% of your breath capacity, so you can double your energy and oxygen supply just by recruiting another part of your body to make your breath deeper. The full breath, sometimes called a three-part breath, is what a baby uses breathing in its crib – you see both the chest and the belly rise and fall steadily. We are aiming to involve the entire body and to equalize the inhale and the exhale. To practice complete breathing, try this technique 10 minutes a day for the next 5 days. Observe the difference in your energy levels, the relaxed ability of your mind and body:

Full, Complete Breathing

• Sit cross-legged on the floor – use support under your hips to find comfort.

• Touch the backs of your hands to your knees, palms facing toward the sky.

• Tip your chin down slightly to feel the back of your neck become elongated.

• Exhale firmly to expel all of the oxygen in your belly, cleansing your lungs.

• Turn your eyes to look softly down toward your ankles.

• Let your belly become soft and slack.

• Mouth closed, inhale through your nose for a count of 5 or 6, visualizing your breath like a warm, white light moving from your low abdomen to your mid-belly and up to your chest.

• Mouth closed, exhale through your nose for the same count of 5 or 6

Continue this technique for 10 minutes. At the end of the session, sit quietly and observe the differences in the body and mind. As you re-enter the busy world around you, take this sense of calm with you.

Wishing you peace and calm this busy holiday season. Find your breath and your yoga mat.

Namaste

Now more than ever we need to find the restorative support of our yoga practice to help us through these busy times.  Sometimes it is easier (believe me!) to pass on your practice, but now more than ever is a great time to commit to yourself, your health and your well being.  Take a minute to slow down, to find your breath and find your mat.  Settle your mind and focus on the breath - taking cherished time for yourself.  The word "asana" means “pose” but it also means “seat”. So when we’re in an asana, we’re actually taking a seat, slowing down into a position, starting a conversation with our breath, body and mind - finding restoration.  Yoga affords us the opportunity to slow down....

The process of centering one’s breath is called ‘Pranayam’ in Yoga. Pranayam is an extremely powerful technique of ancient yoga. The concept behind this breathing exercise is quite simple.  In the process of a deep, steady breathing exercise, one has to maintain a rhythm of breath. When the air moves in the body, it creates harmony. This harmony creates a healing effect, and is therefore very restorative for the body.

At the start of every class at Yoga Sanctuary, we engage in the process of centering the mind and the body with the breath.  This can be done seated, standing, on the back or in child's pose.  Centering the breath invokes a shift in consciousness, whether it be in stillness or action.  When you enter the yoga class, you are in the midst of your day and your mind is often restless or disturbed; doing simple centering exercises for the body, mind and breath can create an immediate shift in conciousness, enabling you to bring greater awareness, peace and stillness to the body.  As you carry this meditative breathing through your yoga practice, the results are deeply healing and restorative.....just what we all need during this busy season of festivity and celebration.  

From all of the teachers at Yoga Sanctuary, we wish you many blessings... and we look forward to helping you keep your restorative balance on the mat so that you may take that restoration with you out into the world.  

Namaste

I know I speak for all of the teachers here at the studio when I say it is our honor to share your yoga practice with you everyday.  We often here students say "I always feel so much better after I finish my yoga class" - that is truly what it is all about.  Feeling better every day, and yoga can really help us on that journey.  

Since some of you are newer to yoga, in this blog I thought I would share a little background on one of the traditions often shared at the end of a yoga class.... the gesture of 'Namaste'.  

The gesture of Namaste represents the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us that is located in the heart chakra. The gesture is an acknowledgment of the soul in one by the soul in another. "Nama" means bow, "as" means I, and "te" means you. Therefore, Namaste literally means "bow me you" or "I bow to you."

To perform Namaste, we place the hands together at the heart charka, close the eyes, and bow the head. It can also be done by placing the hands together in front of the third eye, bowing the head, and then bringing the hands down to the heart. This is an especially deep form of respect. Although in the West the word "Namaste" is usually spoken in conjunction with the gesture, in India, it is understood that the gesture itself signifies Namaste, and therefore, it is not always necessary to say the word while bowing.

We bring the hands together at the heart chakra to increase the flow of compassion. Bowing the head and closing the eyes helps the mind surrender to the compassion of the heart. One can do Namaste to oneself as a meditation technique to go deeper inside the heart chakra; when done with someone else, it is also a beautiful, albeit quick, meditation.

For a teacher and student, Namaste allows two individuals to come together energetically to a place of connection and timelessness, a way to pay mutual respect to one another and "bow to the divine in each of us".  At Yoga Sanctuary, Namaste is generally done at the end of class because the mind is less active and the energy in the room is more peaceful. The teacher initiates Namaste as a symbol of gratitude and respect toward her students and her own teachers, and in return invites the students to connect with their lineage, thereby allowing the truth to flow—the truth that we are all one when we live from the heart.

From all of our hearts at Yoga Sanctuary to yours.....Namaste.

Hello and welcome to Yoga Sanctuary's Upward Facing Blog, a resourceful compilation of yoga musings written by our fabulous Yoga Sanctuary instructors.

As you can see, we like to have a little fun! Through this blog, we hope to inspire and connect with our students, friends, family and colleagues in the yoga community. Content will include posture breakdowns, healthy (and delicious) recipes, featured product from the Yoga Sanctuary boutique, teacher playlists, instructive videos, interesting articles... you get the gist. We will also keep you posted on special events taking place at the studio such as workshops, class schedule updates, our upcoming awesome certified teacher training program and of course - when new items hit the Sanctuary boutique! Our hope is that when you just need to get away, Upward Facing Blog can provide that ideal peaceful oasis. That is until you're able to lay down your mat and join us for a refreshing yoga class.

Namaste