I hate to question B.K.S. Iyengar since he is my most revered teacher through his books, however , here’s my question : Wouldn’t Pranayama be better before asana ? B.K.S. says at least 15 minutes after. Thinking of the scenario hoped for : activation of the neurons in the spine, you’d think an oxygenated, balanced body would be best before spreading the wealth. Namaste.
Hey Tony,
Pranayama is not only a most excellent means of warming up before asana, it conditions the body with a higher degree of control, of the breathing and bandhas too, during asana. This is what Vishnu Devananda suggests. Also, since many people have little time for both, if they wait to do pranayama until afterward, it often gets skipped. Better to have done your pranayama up front and skipped asana rather than visa versa.
peace,
siva
Thanks, that is what I want to hear and it’s good to hear the Vishnu Devananda reference too. And it is like you said, too often for me ,that I skip it , because of time . Here’s hoping there’s not too much palpable evidence for pranayama afterwards. Namaste
Different systems, different methods, different purpose, different effect, different levels of study.
Generally speaking, in the Iyengar construct, pranayama (in the first ten years of practice) is such that the nervous system moves into it’s parasympathetic state. With the nervous system calm in this way, it is important not to jar the student, to move slowly, to be mindful, to maintain the effect as long as possible (since we live in a world that centers around jarring the nerves).
For this reason an asana practice (which typically moves the nervous system into its sympathetic mode) precludes pranayama. Pranyama is the seal upon the envelop of your physical practice.
Additionally, since the home of pranayama (in the Iyengar system) is between the diaphragm and the collar bones, a preceding asana practice which attends to opening that which needs to be opened would facilitate reaching the depths of a robust pranayama. While a pranayama practice without requisite opening (vis a vis backbends) may be perfectly “fine” that same practice following backbends (as example) is far more fecund.
Makes good sense to me ; I guess when your aim is focused on the nervous system, which I know is the 2nd highest focus of yoga only superceded by Liberation, then pranayama after the outer sheath is primed, makes sense. I can also see some avenues for neural enhancement opening up by doing it before. I am guessing that both ways work and I believe I’m a lot like a weathervane : whichever way the wind blows I turn. I’ll continue as I have been doing it after and I’ll try and make more time but failing that I’ll start with maybe 15 minutes of pranayama 1st. namaste
With empathy stomach Pranayama can be exercised at any time in a day. But its advantages can be increased if practiced especially after asana and before meditation practice, because of its soothing effect.
@ Tony
Perfectly fine my friend to proceed however you feel you are moved toward your soul, source, spirit.
I would pose the larger question of directing one’s evolution with a stimulated (or, more to the point, over stimulated) nervous system. if, for the moment, we presume one is happy with the middle ground of samadhi (why I cannot fathom), then the puzzle would be how even that could be possible with a sympathetic nervous system.
It is, of course, a rhetorical question, though I don’t think it will remain there in this environment 
I know what you mean, Gordon. I have been resolute, though never in a hurry and I am happy with my progress, such as it is. Eventually, without my acting as the author of my path, my path will continue to get closer to where I’m going. Thank you for your insights, they are informed and incisive. Namaste