L E T T E R F R O M THE Y O G A S TUD I O
The aspect of yoga that focuses on the breath is called pranayama . There are many forms of pranayama that are familiar to experienced yogis such as alternate nostril breathing or the ocean breath called ujjayi . However , people new to yoga are often unaware of the importance of their breath .
What all breath practices in yoga have in common is consciousness . Thankfully , we are breathing all through our day and night without needing to get involved . We can work , play and sleep without concern for manufacturing our next breath . So why bother looking deeper ? Yogic breathing can reduce anxiety and depression , stabilize blood pressure , increase your energy for life activities and improve your body ' s ability to relax . Pranayama helps us reduce sympathetic nervous tone ( what we think of as our fight or flight response to stressors ) and increase our time in parasympathetic tone ( a state of rest and digest as well as play ).
It is easy to see how this can improve the quality of our life in general . Could it also improve our game ?
If you are looking to coordinate your swing with your breath rhythm , you really want to be able to experience your natural breath and then be able to become expansive with it . Perhaps you want to extend your exhalation , establish breath control , or link your breath with counts . These techniques are part of the yogic practice of pranayama and help to strengthen your diaphragm , release excess body tension , and enhance clarity .
Next time you think about upping your game with yoga , you might just think about your breath ! My yoga for relaxation class specializes in this work and is included in your membership . Students new to yoga are welcome to join . I look forward to seeing you in class .
For a full schedule of our yoga classes , see satyalife . com . Namaste ,
Satya Life Yoga 863-802-9642 www . satyalife . com
Frankie Hart
MFA , YACEP , ERYT500 ,
Eaglebrooke Newsletter 17