Category: Pranayama Journal

  • Yoga Practice – Winter 2018/19

    I am again nearing a review with my teacher and so decided to take note of where I am in practice. Current Practice My current practice routine fills my morning and is about 120-150 minutes: Part 1: Entering Practice (~ 5 minutes) Samasthithi – hands on my heart space, allowing the mind to settle and…

  • Yoga Practice Reflection – Sping 2018

    It’s been a while since I’ve posted a practice review. I am not much inclined to doing so. I am in a period of relative silence, not inclined to talking too much (especially if not asked to). So this is mostly note-taking for myself. This is what my current practice looks like this (this is…

  • Breath and Allergy – Spring 2016

    A few days ago allergy symptoms started to appear and have been gradually increasing. A itchiness in my throat, eyes … and sometimes sneezing sequences. This morning, for the first time this season, I had to get out of bed at 5:45 to move myself into a vertical position (lying down aggravates the symptoms) and…

  • Yoga Practice Review with Paul – Spring 2016

    Following my periodic reflection I had another review with my teacher. Though my original intention was to focus on the pranayama sequence, the development of breath in asana and its relationship to pranayama called for some attention. The following changes were introduced to the asana sequence: Adding parsva uttanasana in the standing sequence. Continuing structured…

  • Practicing Pranayama with Congestion

    The day before yesterday we left very early in the morning to a day filled with traveling and unknowns. I didn’t practice that morning and I didn’t practice yesterday morning because I was too unsettled to enjoy a meaningful practice. Today was a “resuming practice” day. On such days my nasal passages are usually at…

  • Recovering with Pranayama: Flow, Space, Ease

    The past week (give or take) has been awkward. It began with a disturbed feeling all over –  I felt energetically drained and emotionally heavy – this lasted two days. Then the disturbance moved into my digestive system – I lost my appetite – also for two days (though it still hasn’t resumed completely). Then…

  • Not Changing My Pranayama

    I am still practicing Pranayama only once a day – in the morning. I am using the practice my teacher gave to me over 4 months ago. The regularity of my practices changes depending on life’s vibrations . I don’t struggle to practice – when life throws me off I wait or try to do…

  • Recent Pranayama: Refinement, Chaos & Sound

    I’m fairly settled in a very regular practice sequence. I get around 08:00, much later then I used to – maybe it’s because of the winter light (or lack of it). I read a little and drink some water and then sit down for a practice that includes Pranayama practice and meditation. I still do…

  • Do You Remember?

    Some days ago my Pranayama practice left me vibrating with thoughts about memory. I had an OK practice though my mind was wandering. At one point in the practice I found myself trying to recall if I held my breath as I was supposed to on the previous breath. Even though it happened just seconds…

  • In Pranayama Quality Trumps Quantity

    Pranayama is the most regular practice I’ve taken up since returning to a regular morning practice routine. I am currently practicing once a day with my current morning practice – where the crown posture involves a krama on the exhale (exhaling 8 seconds, holding 4 seconds, exhaling 8 more seconds and holding for another 4…

  • Getting Back to Practice

    It’s been almost two weeks now that I’ve been enjoying a fairly regular practice routine – it’s still building, still taking shape but it’s presence is stabilizing. It was interesting for me to observe a cycle over 3+ months as I moved away from and back towards a practice. Practice >> Wanting to Practice >>…

  • Just Ujjayi

    We’ve been on the move for a few weeks now- first taking apart our home, then moving to my parents – and next week off to Romania  (this time next week I’ll be waking up for the first time in Romania). I haven’t been able to practice for at least two weeks (except for a…

  • Change in Morning Pranayama Practice – Surrender?

    A couple of days ago my teacher changed my morning Pranayama from this: 10 – 0 – 15 – 0 Gradually build up Ujjayi breath 10 – 0 – 15 – 0 x6 Anuloma Ujjayi 10 – 5 – 15 – 0 x6 Anuloma Ujjayi 10 – 5 – 15 – 5 x6 Anuloma Ujjayi…

  • Observing Pranayama – September 2010

    This period of observation continues the previous 10 days and brings it to a total of 30 days. My current morning Pranayama practice is: 10 –  0  – 15 – 0 Gradually build up Ujjayi breath 10 –  0  – 15 – 0 x6 Anuloma Ujjayi 10 –  5  – 15 – 0 x6 Anuloma…

  • Observing Pranayama: August 2010

    Following is a 10 day journal of observations in and around my Pranayama practice. My current morning Pranayama practice is: 10 –  0  – 15 – 0 Gradually build up Ujjayi breath 10 –  0  – 15 – 0 x6 Anuloma Ujjayi 10 –  5  – 15 – 0 x6 Anuloma Ujjayi 10 –  5 …

  • Welcome to Pranayama Journal

    Numerous circumstances have lowered the amount of writing I do here, specifically about Yoga. A lot of my Yoga energy is being diverted to other Yoga activities: I’ve been making an effort to regulate my practices, I’ve been working on an asana illustration and sequence building project and I’ve been supporting my teacher in creating…