Pratyahara is sense control where we withdraw from external objects which nourish the senses in order to still the mind. It is the practice of drawing one’s attention inward rather than toward objects.
When our senses are unchecked and in control of our minds we become enslaved by them. The eyes draw our attention away from what we are doing or whom we are speaking to if we feel we have to see everything and everyone that passes by us. Our taste buds cause us to crave all sorts of foods whether they are good for the rest of the body or not so as to please the tongue. We become addicted to a continual need to stimulate our senses and are then driven by desire. As we become overly influenced by external happenings and sensations we find inner peace and tranquility elusive at best.
In practicing pratyahara we choose what is good for us, not only what is pleasant. We find joy in what we are, knowing that we are divine. We are aware of what is going on around us, but not influenced by it or attached to it. This is the aim of pratyahara, to get the senses to follow the mind, not the mind to be dragged around and controlled by the senses.
The practice of pratyahara frees our minds and brings peace as we become released from desire and the constant pull to find pleasure from external objects. When the mind is focused and purified, the senses follow it and peacefulness is attained.
Namaste.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Pranayama, The Fourth Limb of Yoga
Prana is vital, life energy. All that vibrates in the universe is prana. Heat, light, magnetism, power, electricity, life, and spirit are all forms of prana. Prana permeates each individual as well as the universe at all levels. Prana is physical, mental, intellectual, sexual, spiritual and cosmic energy.
Ayama means expansion, growth, extension, magnification, and length.
Pranayama is breathing techniques practiced to help us gain awareness of our breath. The breath is an important link between our body, mind and spirit. When practicing pranayama, we are measuring, controlling, and directing the breath and thus energy (prana) within the body in order to restore and maintain health, and to aid spiritual growth.
Our state of mind is closely linked to the quality of prana within. The more content a person is the more prana there is flowing freely inside him or her. Because we can influence the flow of prana through the breath, the quality of our breath influences our state of mind helping us to keep the mind alert and clear. In yoga, we are trying to make use of these connections in order to free the flow of life-enhancing prana within us.
The benefits we receive as a result of increased, free flowing prana include stress relief, increased lung capacity, pain management, mental and physical balance, lower blood pressure, stimulation of the circulatory, immune, and metabolic systems, and the list goes on.
There are many different practices of pranayama designed to induce different effects. There are pacifying breathing techniques, energizing and heating practices, and pranayama for cooling and calming. It is best to study pranayama with a skilled teacher as these practices require much skill.
Namaste.
Ayama means expansion, growth, extension, magnification, and length.
Pranayama is breathing techniques practiced to help us gain awareness of our breath. The breath is an important link between our body, mind and spirit. When practicing pranayama, we are measuring, controlling, and directing the breath and thus energy (prana) within the body in order to restore and maintain health, and to aid spiritual growth.
Our state of mind is closely linked to the quality of prana within. The more content a person is the more prana there is flowing freely inside him or her. Because we can influence the flow of prana through the breath, the quality of our breath influences our state of mind helping us to keep the mind alert and clear. In yoga, we are trying to make use of these connections in order to free the flow of life-enhancing prana within us.
The benefits we receive as a result of increased, free flowing prana include stress relief, increased lung capacity, pain management, mental and physical balance, lower blood pressure, stimulation of the circulatory, immune, and metabolic systems, and the list goes on.
There are many different practices of pranayama designed to induce different effects. There are pacifying breathing techniques, energizing and heating practices, and pranayama for cooling and calming. It is best to study pranayama with a skilled teacher as these practices require much skill.
Namaste.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
