Pranayama - yogic breath

Alternate Nostril Breath or Nadi Shodhana is one of the most basic and common yoga breathing exercises. It is mentioned in a number of Hatha Yoga texts – such as Vasishtha Samhita – as prana shuddhi, a preliminary exercise to cleanse the life force channels. Life force, called prana in Sanskrit (chi or qi in Chinese), is said to be the organising force that creates order – and good health – in the physical body.

Breathing techniques have been studied for thousands of years, yet in modern society most people are not aware of their breath unless they have breathing problems or have to run up a flight of stairs. In yoga, the study and practice of breath – pranayama – is essential for boosting health and plumbing the depths of our being. more…

(This is an extract from an email in response to a question from holistic medical doctor Dr.Tessa Jones – “What is a healthy breast?” My reply was to the founder members of the New Zealand Breast Health Foundation.) more…

Love your breasts

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is here again, and there is the usual talk of early detection and of finding the “cure” around the corner, but no mention of preventing the dreaded epidemic — an absurd and cruel philosophy that fails humanity by focusing on closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

By focusing on disease, we create anxiety and fear, which itself creates disease by causing stress and disarming the immune system. Instead, by focusing on health, women can move from a position of fear to a position of empowerment.

For the benefit of our beloved womenfolk, I now share vital (from the Latin vitalis “of or belonging to life”) information on staying healthy. more…

“Yoga Nidra, which is derived from the tantras, is a powerful technique in which you learn to relax consciously. In yoga nidra, sleep is not regarded as relaxation. People feel they are relaxing when they collapse in an easy chair with a cup of coffee, a drink or a cigarette, and read a newspaper or switch on the television. But this will never suffice as a scientific definition of relaxation. These are only sensory diversions. True relaxation is actually an experience far beyond all this. For absolute relaxation you must remain aware. This is yoga nidra, the state of dynamic sleep.” – Swami Satyananda Saraswati more…

Stress is a natural condition of life – any change in our external or internal environment creates a need for the body to balance the effects of that change.

Stress creates the opportunity for growth – physically and mentally. The important point is that periods of stress must be followed by periods of recovery for growth to occur – otherwise, instead, there is damage or burnout. This is the principle that is used in world-class athletic training – and can be applied to all aspects of life. more…

Prana is the Sanskrt term for subtle energy that organises and powers the physical body. Most, if not all, traditional cultures have had a concept of subtle energy – the Chinese called it Qi (or Chi), and the Japanese called it Ki.

Ueshiba founder of Aikido

When I was practising Aikido in the 80s and 90s, I often had direct experience of the power of ki. We learned how to cultivate our own ki; and how to sense and direct an attacker’s ki in order to throw the attacker in a variety of spectacular ways. I met elderly people who had practised extending their ki for several years – they were immensely powerful, yet infinitely gentle. Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, practised and taught well into his nineties; in fact until the day he died. more…