Pranayama: Coming to practice

[Third of three articles]

by Pixie Lillas

Go to Part 1 • Go to Part 2

In the previous two articles I discussed the background required for starting pranayama, and then outlined a practice of postures which can be used as a preparation of the mind and the body for pranayama. This final article will have a look at how to go about setting up for a basic pranayama session.

Before coming to pranayama itself, I would first like to point out some essential guidelines for practice. These are questions and uncertainties that are frequently mentioned by prospective practitioners. For more extensive guidelines and suggestions please refer to Light On Pranayama by BKS Iyengar and Yoga a Gem for Women by Geeta S Iyengar.

Time of day to practise

When to practise is a question which is often asked. Traditionally pranayama is done early in the morning, before other activities. Classically, just before sunrise. Early, even if not precisely at dawn, is ideal for many as it is a time we can organise without the interruptions of work and family. It is also when we have a mind less cluttered with the events and preoccupations of the day. Our body may be a little stiff, but potentially neutral. Pranayama at this time offers a clear start to the day, a moment to be self reflective and to set up good patterns of breath and mindfulness for the next 24 hours. It gives us an idea of how we actually are, as it helps us become aware of the effects of our activities the day before and to undo any remaining imbalances. During a session of pranayama we may notice, for example, that we feel a bit jangled from too much coffee the previous day, are heavy in the body from slow digestion or are full of leftover thoughts that are still worrying us. Taking 15 or 20 minutes for pranayma can help us regain equilibrium. It also enables the body to function more efficiently on an organic level by opening the chest and lungs, stimulating the diaphragm and facilitating digestion and elimination.

The end of the day is another possibility, and for some is more feasible. There may be a degree of end of work lethargy or tiredness but some people clearly function better at this point of the day. After a quiet evening practice following a sequence of restorative postures as indicated in the previous article, the breath is quite tangible. If we are able to bring the mind to quietness and receptiveness, the body is often looser by the afternoon and the ribs and chest are more pliable. Pranayama at this time of day can be soothing and refreshing.

On a practical level, first thing in the morning has the advantage that we have not yet eaten. As it is essential to practise on an empty stomach and at least half an hour to an hour away from asana practice a session later in the day can take a bit more planning. However 15 minutes or so of quietening ourselves through supported poses and savasana at the end of posture work is often enough to prepare for pranayama. Some practitioners feel that this is when they are mentally at their most receptive.

Given the possibility, a “perfect” yoga day would be: early morning pranayama followed by a break of half an hour or so, an active asana session and then a practice of inverted postures and perhaps a few forward bends or restorative poses at the end of the day before dinner. If we can manage this it interesting to see what it is like to spend a day or even two or three centred around yoga. It gives us a reference point, an opportunity to see what practice is like without first needing to undo the rest of our day. Practice for the sake of practice. On a day to day basis though , given the demands most of us have, it is best to find what will actually work for us and do that. Consistency, letting yoga become a part of our life is better than a burst of it here and there.

Location

A clean and quiet place where we can remain undisturbed for the duration of the session is best. It takes a little time to settle into the neutrality and stillness required for clear breath observation. It is difficult to break off and then try to come back to where we were or need to be. Plan a shorter session if necessary but endeavour to keep the time free of distractions.

“Hints and cautions”

This is a phrase used by Mr. Iyengar in Light on Yoga and Light on Pranayama to describe some important points to consider when establishing a pranayama practice. The relevant sections from the above-mentioned books contain more specific suggestions about how to practise. I refer you to those texts for more in-depth study.

For the purposes of this article I will select just a few guidelines to follow when practising on your own. These are things that apply to any sort of yoga breathing you do. They have been useful for me to refer to when practising on my own, and much of it comes from guidance received from the Mr Iyengar, his daughter Geeta and son Prashant during the past 25 or so years of attending classes and intensives with them.

– To be considered pranayama, the breath needs to be even, channelled and conscious. Breathing should never be done with effort and hardness. Mr Iyengar has often said that pranayama will never come with force or hardness. We must learn to guide the breath, channel it with compassion, not with aggression.

– If the breath becomes short and jagged, rough or uneven, it is time to do a few cycles of normal breathing or to stop for the day. Pranayama must have an even, smooth and harmonious sound and quality. If that smooth flow is lost, do not go on deepening the breath. When playing an instrument like the clarinet or recorder, the musician aims at producing a sound which is even and melodic rather than sharp and squeaky. The tone of your breath will tell you if you are doing it correctly. As with all things, it takes time to recognise the correct “note” for the breath, but we need to know that we are looking for it at least. If the sound of the breath is harsh, “squeaky” or jerky you may be forcing or going beyond your capacity.

– Ideally, each breath will follow on from the previous one with the same quality and sound, not each breath different from the last. A certain rhythm needs to be established. If the sound changes, if the rhythm is disturbed, try a few cycles of normal breathing before you again deepen the breath.

Tension in the face( eyes, ears, temples, throat, tongue)

The head and face are to remain passive and uninvolved with the breath. The chest alone is intended to be opened and illuminated with the breath, thrown into daylight; the limbs and face are to remain quiet and inert, dark and cool as night.

The tendency instead is for the head to lift and strain during puraka, inhalation, and tension can then be felt in the eyes and temples and the ears may become hot and “ full”. This is to be avoided during pranayama and will immediately tell us that we have gone beyond our capacity. Go back to normal breathing and reset yourself to neutrality before you deepen the breath again.

During rechaka, exhalation, the chest often sags and the ribs drop down towards the diaphragm. This restricts the breath in exhalation and tends to make us strain or push the final part of the outgoing breath. If this occurs pressure will again be felt, a sense that there is still breath in the lungs but it has nowhere to go. Keep the chest well lifted with supports as required (refer to later text) so that the chest remains open during exhalation as well as inhalation.

The eyes, ears, throat and tongue need to be quiet and soft throughout pranayama. The head remains as a distant, dispassionate observer, watching the breath but unaffected by it. If heaviness, fullness or pressure is felt here during pranayama, go back to normal savasana breathing. Never continue with hardness or pressure in the organs of perception.

Synchronisation of the breath

-Synchronise the movement of the chest with the movement of the breath. The breath is the initiator and needs to give the opening and the direction for the chest to follow. Just as a ship moves through water with the bow parting the sea as it makes its way forward, so too the breath creates the path for the body to respond. The chest opens systematically to receive the breath. We tend to lift the upper chest when the breath is still at the first “rung” of the lower ribs rather than let the breath climb up and the chest respond to its arrival. Let the breath spread into the chest from bottom to top on the inhalation. On the exhalation the chest gradually releases as the breath moves out. The fullness of the chest recedes; don’t let it drop suddenly as the breath is exhaled.

– Never push the breath to the extent that the next part of the cycle is rushed or urgent. Anticipate the moment you need to inhale and exhale. Don’t try to extend the breath to the point where you have to grab for the next one.

– Become familiar with your normal rhythm of breath. Mr Iyengar often points out that unless we know our normal breath, pranayama will never be known.

Practice

For this article I am going to assume you will be doing pranayama in the morning. If you are setting yourself up for a later practice, make sure that you have not eaten for the last two to three hours and that you have taken time to do a few restorative supported postures as previously described.

It may also be best to read the article first, set up your blankets and then reread the relevant section just before practising. The guidance of a teacher in a class setting is ideal, as they can pace the instructions and remind you of important points as you go through the session. Here you will need to rely on your memory and perhaps reread the instructions a few times.

For early morning pranayama, prepare yourself by emptying your bladder, washing your face and cleaning your teeth. Organise a place to practise that is quiet and clean. Fresh air is important, so it is best to have warm clothing and a blanket to cover yourself with rather than having closed windows and an overheated environment in winter.

Set up two blankets each folded in half and placed along your mat as shown. (If you only have one blanket available, fold it in three lengthways and place it along the spine starting at the small of the back.) Prepare a folded blanket for your head which is high enough to support your neck and skull so that the head doesn’t tilt backwards. The height will depend on your body and your own requirements.

Lie back over the blanket as though going to savasana. Place yourself so that the lower blanket comes to the small of the back just above the top of the pelvis. The second blanket should start at the lower back ribs. The two blankets will be staggered a little so that there is a small space between the first and the second.

Lie back evenly over the blankets so that the spine is straight and the hips and shoulders are in line with each other. Adjust your head blanket so that is supports the whole back of your neck and head, starting at the base of the neck just above the shoulders. Check that the head is not tilting backwards and that the skin of the face is moving down towards the chin and throat.

Extend the legs out straight and then release them to the sides so that the outer ankles, knees and thighs are rolling out and down towards the floor. Release the legs right from the top of the thigh rotating them from inside out.

Keep your spine long and in the centre of the blankets so that you feel evenness on either side of the spine with the blanket exactly in the middle of the back.

Rotate the shoulders down towards the floor, collarbones broad and the shoulder tips rolling down towards the floor. Allow the arms to turn from inside out right from the top of the arm near the shoulder to allow the outer elbows and wrists to turn down to the floor in line with the inner elbows and wrists. Turn the palms towards the ceiling.

Do not create hardness. Set your body in position mindfully and methodically but without forcing.

The aim here is to have the body at ease and yet maintain a certain alertness. The chest is supported to allow the back ribs and shoulder blades to slightly move up towards the front body. We need what Mr. Iyengar terms an “inner lift”, one which comes without muscular effort.

Observe the space created between the lower ribs and upper abdomen. The abdomen will be a little below the lower edge of the ribs and this allows the diaphragm to move more freely.

Relax your feet, your toes,your legs to the floor. Let go the skin of the palms, the fingers; no tension anywhere.

Release all the muscles of the face, the throat, the mouth and the tongue. Let the cheek bones soften and spread in the face. Let the space between the eyes grow a little wider to the sides.

Allow the eyeballs to sink down to the back of the eye sockets, away from the eyelids.

Let the eardrums move in towards each other deep inside the cavity of the skull. Quieten the face and keep the ears passive throughout pranayama. If any tension or hardness appears, go back to normal breathing and release the tightness.

In pranayama the head remains passive and neutral as though watching objectively from a distance. The minute the brain becomes active, consciously quieten the organs of perception again.

It is not easy to remain neutral, “innocent” and open to the breath. It takes consistent practice. Learn to be aware when you have become disturbed in your eyes, ears, throat or tongue. To “listen” to the breath that inner silence is necessary. It may take all your attention some days to quieten your mind during pranayama, but, like a parent with a small child who is constantly running off, you just need to keep bringing your mind back to the body, back to the breath. It is useful not to allow frustration to take over. Just one even steady breath with complete mindfulness is something to be satisfied with. This is an ongoing practice and in the end is neither good nor bad but just is whatever comes on that day.

The mind is mostly elusive and difficult to control and it is therefore helpful to approach the mind through the physical body. If we can keep the eyes still and quiet, the brain also becomes more still. We cannot order the mind to be passive, or make the breath smooth. We can though set ourselves up to enable these things to occur. It is more about undoing at first, clearing the decks in order to make space for the breath.

Ujjayi pranayama

First allow the body to settle physically into the pose. Then consciously begin to observe your normal breath. Watch how, in normal breathing, the breath moves from different points in the chest.

Bring evenness between the inhalation and the exhalation. Which one is longer, which one is shorter. Lengthen the shorter one and diminish the duration of the longer so that there is a steady and even flow. Give and receive the breath in equal quantity.

Is the right lung more active than the left, or vice versa? Bring more alertness to the dull side so that both sides are evenly receiving and releasing the breath.

Begin to observe the movement of the breath at the level of the lower floating ribs. Watch how the ribs open on the inhalation, recede on the exhalation. This helps to bring us more inside, less concerned with the outer world.

As you continue your normal breathing feel the space within the cavity of the chest. Experience the depth from the sternum to the back dorsal spine, the breadth from the centre out to the left and right. Continue to be aware of this space during pranayama.

Begin to deepen your exhalation, allowing the breath to move consciously, slowly and smoothly out of the lungs, from top to middle to bottom lung. Release the breath evenly with a smooth steady flow, simultaneously from the left side and the right side of the lungs.

At the end of the exhalation, pause and release the lower abdomen towards the floor and then begin to consciously inhale, as though drawing the breath up from the pool of the abdomen. The abdomen descends during pranayama, do not make it puff upwards at any stage. Let the bottom floating ribs spread to the sides, like callipers opening out at the beginning of the inhalation. Observe the movement of the breath as it spreads the lower ribs out and then moves up into the chest, like liquid filling a glass, expanding to the sides as it moves up towards the upper chest. Let the breath fill the space within the chest methodically, systematically like water finding its way into each small cavity.

Allow the front ribs and sternum to be opened from behind by the movement of the incoming breath. Synchronise the movement of the breath with the opening of the chest.

Let your mind be with the breath, exactly in contact with each other. Where the breath is the mind needs also to be.

Let the lungs fill evenly and without force to the top of the chest.

Do not take the breath up into the throat and head. Let the collar bones be like a lid for the breath, the gate where the breath stops. If you draw the breath up into the throat and face you may experience the fullness and pressure mentioned in the earlier guidelines.

When the breath reaches that upper part of the lungs, just below the collarbones, pause, lift the chest again and slowly, smoothly exhale, from the top of the lungs down through the middle chest to the bottom lungs. Let the chest slowly empty out. Like an air mattress gradually losing air, as the breath leaves the lungs the chest maintains its outer shape at first until more breath has been released. Then the outer form of the chest recedes. The diaphragm controls the exhalation, like a car in first gear slowly going down a hill. Maintain the controlled movement of the diaphragm until close to the end of exhalation. Then release it completely, pause, soften the lower abdomen again, and again start your next deep inhalation.

Continue in this way with one deep inhalation, exhalation followed by a normal cycle of breath. If the steadiness and rhythm have been maintained, continue with two deep ujjayi breaths and then a normal cycle of breath.

Do not be ambitious in pranayama. Be mindful and conscious of when tension or shakiness has come in. At that point always return to normal breathing and release the tightness or hardness before you continue.

Practise in this way for 10 to 20 minutes, according to your capacity.

At the end of your session, finish with a deep inhalation and go back to normal breathing.

Observe if any tensions have found their way in to the eyes, the ears, the throat, and release completely. Go back to complete neutrality, let go everywhere.

Remain for a few minutes in Savasana, with quiet, soft normal breathing. Let go of any hardness, let the breath become smooth and steady.

Observe the gentle touch of the breath in the nose as it moves in and out. Keep the inner membranes of the nose soft and feel where the breath touches on the inhalation and the exhalation. Don’t “ do’ anything with the breath, just feel its quiet passage as it moves in and out.

Bend the knees and take the feet to the floor. Then slowly let the eyelids draw back to open the eyes. Keep the softness in your gaze, as though the eyes were looking out from the back of the head.

Then roll over onto the right side and stay for another few breaths before you get up.

This completes your basic ujjayi pranayama session.

Leave at least 20 - 30 minutes between pranayama and your breakfast or your asana practice.

Give yourself a few weeks of regular pranayama and see what effect it has. It is much more subtle than the asana work, and you may not notice a big difference at first. With consistent practice you will be able to feel the difference in your day, and you will begin to notice how you feel when you don’t do it.

Pranayama for many practitioners takes a long time to “get”. It is worth it, however, as it is hugely rewarding and quietly transforming. The only requirement is that we do it with neutrality, without wanting any particular result. Just practise and observe.

Breath gives us life. It probably deserves our respect.