Pranayama technique - rechaka

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I have always been taught that in Pranayama the lungs are filled with air “as a jug” from the bottom to the top and emptied in the same way - that is, starting with the diaphragm and ending with the top of the lungs.That is indeed what most authors recommend and I assume it applies to all kinds of Pranayama.

However, I recently happened to read in Iyengar’s “Light on Pranayama” something which sounds as exactly the opposite advice: “In exhalation the source or the starting point is the top of the chest?” He is not being more specific about that and I am confused and worried. Have I been doing something as basic as this wrongly all along. Can someone help with a competent advice please!

#2

Namaskar,
If you don’t have a teacher, I suggest you watch
Swami Ramdev’s pranayama video. You can get it
at divyayoga dot com and others.

#3

I have always been taught that in Pranayama the lungs are filled with air “as a jug” from the bottom to the top and emptied in the same way - that is, starting with the diaphragm and ending with the top of the lungs.That is indeed what most authors recommend and I assume it applies to all kinds of Pranayama.

Inhale-belly,chest,slight lift of collar bones (to expand w any last air)

However, I recently happened to read in Iyengar’s “Light on Pranayama” something which sounds as exactly the opposite advice: “In exhalation the source or the starting point is the top of the chest…” He is not being more specific about that and I am confused and worried. Have I been doing something as basic as this wrongly all along.

On the exhale-go–> in reverse.

This completes one full yogic breath.

Here is a site you might find helpful covering variouspranayama.

it is hard to give responsible remarks for this kiind of thing over internet.

as i have said your 1st paragraph sounds like inhalation,your second exhalation.so the

'emptied in the same way’
might be erronoeus though i suspect you might read,hear about all different kinds of pranayama.(different schools might even state different things which is why folk suggest teacher, one consideration being it would appear to reduce conflict if one way of doing things is practiced)

that said it would’nt let it freak you out completely or dissuade- you have to take some responsiblity for your own practice.and devlop the wisdom to discern wht is serving you and what maybe is’nt.

hope this might help.

as a final word- iw ould say just be relaxed about your practices- don’t strain anything,your thoughts or your mind. i personally aspire towards a slow,relaxed and moderately full deep breath.i think it’s about tuning into your prana and it is realy something might take some time to cultivate an awareness of, the ancient texts speak of…obviously doing asana semi-regularly should help in this regard,if you do,can do that.

best of luck!

#4

Thanks a lot Ujay and core789 for your prompt replies. They have both been very useful.

#5

At the last teacher training I attended they had us exhale from the top of the chest down so that we could be sure that we had fully emptied our lungs by engaging our diaphram at the end of the complete breath rather than before the exhale is complete. They explained to us that schools will teach it different ways and there is not one and only one ‘right’ way to breath. If you have a teacher, they can guide you in the direction best for your particular practice.

#6

There are a myriad of differing breath techniques. There is no wrong and no right for that leads only to dogma.

That having been said, in Purna Yoga™, the yoga in which I train, practice, and teach, the breath is kept in the home of the breath which is the lungs. Therefore it is contained between the diaphragm and the collarbones.

Breathing into the belly, for yoga, forces a hydraulic system to be a pneumatic system and can lead to ligament issues when not done properly. The belly may rise and fall naturally but it is not at all a focus of the breathing. Again this is only one view but it is the one in which I reside.

gordon

#7

Thanks core 789, for giving the perfect technique of doing pranayam.

#8

I just read a great book about pranayama and the effect on the Asanas - Vayu’s Gate.
I think it is a must for everybody who interested in pranayama depth study.

#9

[quote=Oylok;19988]I have always been taught that in Pranayama the lungs are filled with air “as a jug” from the bottom to the top and emptied in the same way - that is, starting with the diaphragm and ending with the top of the lungs.That is indeed what most authors recommend and I assume it applies to all kinds of Pranayama.

However, I recently happened to read in Iyengar’s “Light on Pranayama” something which sounds as exactly the opposite advice: “In exhalation the source or the starting point is the top of the chest?” He is not being more specific about that and I am confused and worried. Have I been doing something as basic as this wrongly all along. Can someone help with a competent advice please![/quote]

Oylok,

The answer is “No.” You have had it right.

You have to concentrate first on building a foundation, and that takes years. While it’s true there might be variety of techniques to play with, “mastery” requires we stick to just “one.” Which will it be?

Trust what you have “always been taught,” as stated above: inhaling abdomen ribs, exhaling abdomen ribs. After you master this, explore the rest.

[{((( siva )))}]