Yoga practice tips: pace of the session (more on breathing)

I got a question: “what should be the pace of the practice, if pauses are needed, etc.?”

Here is my answer – it could be useful to someone else…

First of all, nowadays there are many different “types” of Yoga. Some of them are very slow and relaxing, others – fast and very physically challenging.
For example – even if a particular rhythm, breath pattern are encouraged in Ashtanga and Power Yoga sessions – if one practices in a group (and not individually tuned private one-on-one sessions) – it’s very likely that large part of the group will constantly break breath patterns, will breath heavily, etc. Reason is simple – if practice is too physical and goes with the speed of a person more fit than you are – you are bound to struggle.
Ideally, pace of the practice should be such, that your breath flows as continuously and “uniformly” as possible. That is good for calming the mind, that is important for relaxation, and for thousand of other more subtle things. Another important reason — if you practice this way and notice your breath starts to change the pace when it not supposed to — you know that you maybe starting to go over the limits your body is ready to go beyond yet. This is the way breath goes in classical, Hatha Yoga sessions, for Yoga defined as “chita vritti nirodha“. Practice this way also suggests holding the asanas rather than changing them breath after another (or after just a few breaths). – This is also a way (the way?) to learn to control your Prana, this is the way one develops ability to have one breath as long as only every 1-few minutes… (And it works.)
Again – if your Yoga practice is more for a gym substitution, for “cardio”, etc. – that is whole another story – you are welcome to do that, but then breathing goes as fast and in different patterns – as you need to supply your blood, muscles with fresh oxygen. – Don’t retain!

All the best wishes for your practice!

Related posts:

You must be logged in to post a comment.