Pranayama and Breathwork in Middlesbrough
Take a moment and dive into the transformative world of Pranayama and gentle breathwork – a key component of Yoga and Chair Yoga practice.
Living with the background buzz from technology, social media and our fast-paced lives, stress and anxiety can appear in our day to day lives. Heightened stress takes atoll on our mental, physical and social well-being. Practising Pranayama (breathwork) is a powerful way to counteract these effects, soothing the nervous system and calming the mind. By using the full capacity of our lungs and engaging the diaphragm, the array of pranayama techniques available to learn can unlock a myriad of benefits. These benefits include invoking relaxation, stress reduction, and improved overall health. In this blog post, we will guide you through what pranayama is, enabling you to tap into the transformative power of your breath.
Pranayama – an important skill to master in our Yoga practice
Yoga includes exercises, breath control, and meditation. While exercises are important, breath control is also essential.
As I started to learn and deepen my Yoga practice, developing skills and knowledge through Pranayama helped me progress. It also helped me learn how to deal with stress and anxiety outside of the classroom.
It also helped me learn how to deal with stress and anxiety outside of the classroom. It helped me sleep better and, when practised regularly – helps me keep a good work-life balance. It also has helped me improve in my running too!
Have you always been interested but never found the time or the right class to start learning? AMALAwellness offer a Thursday morning class in Linthorpe. Click here to check it out and start your meditation and pranayama journey with us today.
Pranayama is important in yoga for its many benefits and positive impact on well-being. In this post, we will delve deeper into the benefits of Pranayama and why you should incorporate it into your wellness journey.
1. Pranayama helps harness Prana – Life Force Energy
Pranayama is derived from the Sanskrit words “prana” (life force) and “ayama” (control or extension) the practice of controlling and channelling the breath. In yoga philosophy, prana is seen as the vital energy that brings consciousness and life to everything, including the physical body. In other traditions, the energy body is also realised and worked with. Such as Tai-chi (Qi – Chi = Life Force Energy).
Pranayama is a practice of controlling and directing the breath. It involves tapping into ‘Prana’ – life force energy – for better physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being.
2. Deepens mind-body connection
One of the foundations of yoga we are taught as beginners is the connection between mind and body. By practising pranayama in yoga and chair yoga sessions, practitioners can enhance their mind-body connection and experience a profound sense of presence and inner awareness.
Pranayama – “extension of the life force,” involves various breathing techniques where practitioners control and manipulate the flow of breath within the body. These techniques include deep belly breathing, alternate nostril breathing, and breath retention. Each technique has its own unique benefits, but they all share a common intention – to balance and energize the body, mind, and spirit.
Not only does pranayama allow practitioners to access the meditative aspects of yoga practice, but it also has a direct impact on our physical well-being. By consciously deepening and lengthening our breath, we activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for initiating the body’s rest and digest response. This helps to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve overall cardiovascular health.
Pranayama is great for all abilities, welcoming people with limited mobility. It’s gentle and accessible, meaning anyone is able to experience the benefits of breath awareness.
3. Enhances Physical and Mental Relaxation
Pranayama techniques involve controlled, conscious breathing with specific inhalation and exhalation patterns. Breathwork techniques have a direct impact on the nervous system, promoting relaxation, and reducing anxiety and stress levels. By incorporating pranayama into yoga and chair yoga sessions, participants can experience increased physical relaxation, improved sleep quality, and a sense of overall calmness and mental well-being.
4. Boosts energy and vitality
Pranayama techniques are not only for relaxation – they can be used to boost energy and vitality too! Certain practices, such as Kapalabhati and Bhastrika pranayama, involve rapid and forceful breathing patterns.
These breathing techniques are great for chair yoga. They help you feel refreshed, boost circulation, and energize your body and mind.
5. Supports respiratory health
Breathing is an essential bodily function. We are often not aware of our breath and often do not harness out full lung capacity, breathing shallowly.. Pranayama focuses on consciously expanding and regulating the breath, which helps to improve lung capacity – allowing the body to take in more oxygen.
Pranayama strengthens the respiratory system, improves lung health, and helps with breathing issues.
To conclude…
For a well-rounded Yoga practice, Yoga and Chair Yoga sessions sessions must include the practice of pranayama. By bringing awareness to the breath and incorporating controlled breathing techniques, practitioners can experience numerous mental, physical, social and spiritual benefits.
It is an essential tool to learn in our Yoga journey. Where to start? Why not join one of our many classes across Teesside.
Pranayama classes in Middlesbrough
AMALAwellness offer Yoga, Chair Yoga and Meditation & Relaxation classes across the Tees Valley. All of our Yoga and Chair Yoga classes have time set aside for breathwork. In our Meditation and Relaxation classes, we have a focus on practice, theory and science behind Pranayama.
If you are interested in learning more about what we do and classes we offer, visit our timetable page here. To book on to a session, email info@amalateesside.com
If you would like to learn about other topics – please let us know in the comments section below! Aimee 💜🙏
Aimee is an experienced Gentle Yoga, Chair Yoga and Exercise, Meditation and relaxation teacher.
Aimee runs a small, grassroot’s community interest company in Teesside. To find out more about AMALAwellness and what we offer, see our timetable and meet the team page.
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