Pranayama is the practice of breath control, and it plays a crucial role in yoga for enhancing one’s physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. “Adham” is a Sanskrit word that can be translated as “inferior” or “low,” and it refers to the lower regions of the body, often associated with the abdomen. Therefore, “Adham Pranayama” translates […]
Continue reading "Adham Pranayama"Nadi Shodhana is the first pranayama described in the classical yogic texts. Ideally, other classical pranayamas should be attempted only after practising nadi shodhana as instructed by the teacher for a specific period. The word nadi means ‘energy channel’ and shodhana means ‘to cleanse’ or ‘to purify’. Therefore, nadi shodhana is a practice whereby the […]
Continue reading "Nadi Shodhana"Pranayama Unveiled The techniques of pranayama are designed to bring the central Nadi, the Sushumna, into the primary function, rather than the Ida or Pingala dominating the functions of prana flow. With the activation of the Sushumna as the primary flow for prana, the yogi experiences freedom from the human condition, and joy. By […]
Continue reading "Pranayama Unveiled"Pranayama (devanāgarī: प्राणायाम prāṇāyāma) is a Sanskrit term composed of two words. The first is prāṇa, and refers to the life force or vital energy, and also to the breath. The second word can be ayāma (beginning with short a: “extension”, “expansion”) or āyāma (beginning with long a: “stopping”, “restraining”). Therefore, the composed term can be translated as either extension or stopping of the life force or breath. […]
Continue reading "Pranayama"Kundalini yoga (kuṇḍalinī-yoga) derives from kundalini, defined in Hindu lore as energy that lies dormant at the base of the spine until it is activated (as by the practice of yoga) and channeled upward through the chakras in the process of spiritual perfection. Kundalini is believed[by whom?] to be power associated with the divine feminine. […]
Continue reading "Kundalini Yoga"Kundalini Connecting the two worlds (heaven above and the sphere of darkness below) is the spinal column, a chain of thirty-three segments protecting within them the spinal cord. This ladder of bones plays a very important part in the religious symbolism of the ancients. It is often referred to as a winding road or stairway. […]
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