Archive for Wednesday 5th March 2003 - Breath of life, soul of yoga

As breath is the essence of life, so it is the soul of yoga. The ancient Indian word for it is ‘prana’, meaning both our individual breath and the universal life force permeating everything. By focusing on the one we can connect to the other with uplifting results. Yogis have been studying pranayama, breath control, for thousands of years. But it is less about mastery and more about letting the breath teach us about our deep, inner nature. The reality is that our breath breathes us and not vice versa. Although yoga divides it into a five-fold cycle, essentially breath is the simple fact of life. And if you breathe, you can practise yoga. A parable, taken from a traditional yogic text, has all the body’s faculties vying for the status of being indispensable. They finally agree to each exit the body to test their potency. Sight leaves and returns, then hearing... and so on When it comes to the turn of the breath, all the other senses panic and beg it not to leave. The message is clear: next time you take a breath try not to take it for granted. Mark Winter

The yoga of breath: getting started Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the ground. Breathe through the nostrils easily and naturally. Be aware how the breath comes in and goes out. Observe what happens at the end of an exhalation. Remember what happens at the end of an inhalation. Notice, listen and observe – by putting your attention on the breath And just being aware. From Breath - The Essence Of Yoga by Sandra Sabatini (Thorsons, £12.99)

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