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…

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…