Keeping The Breath In Mind

Hello Yogis!

I found a gorgeous book called Keeping The Breath In Mind by Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo. I often wonder if I were a yoga teacher trainer, what would my booklist be. I think this might be on it.

Take a look. I’ve copied a little chunk here, below, in italics:

Learn four ways of adjusting the breath:

a. in long and out long,             b. in long and out short,
c. in short and out long,            d. in short and out short.

Breathe whichever way is most comfortable for you. Or, better yet, learn to breathe comfortably all four ways, because your physical condition and your breath are always changing.

5. Become acquainted with the bases or focal points for the mind — the resting spots of the breath — and center your awareness on whichever one seems most comfortable. A few of these bases are:

a. the tip of the nose,                                   b. the middle of the head,
c. the palate,                                               d. the base of the throat,
e. the breastbone (the tip of the sternum),   f. the navel (or a point just above it).

If you suffer from frequent headaches or nervous problems, don't focus on any spot above the base of the throat.

Another example next week.

Classes

Come to class! How are you starting your Friday? Start with me with a small but perfectly formed meditation and Ashtanga class. Otherwise, Monday and Tuesday = stretchy classes at 7.00pm, Wednesday = Ashtanga at 7.00pm and Friday morning = Ashtanga at 8.30am. You can book here Numbers are suffering a little. I’m hoping BST will inspire you when the evenings are not so dark and yucky!

Yoga In The News

LBC has: King Charles 'blocks Andrew's £32k-a-year bill for live-in yoga guru', telling younger brother to pay himself’. ‘The Queen used to sign off the yoga bill every year, but Charles is proving more parsimonious with the royal purse strings.’

APN News has: What is the difference between open-area yoga and yoga at home? ‘Research proves that an adult human has a total lung capacity of about 6 liters of air. By doing yoga openly, you’ll be able to breathe in higher-quality oxygen, which can help break out any impurities that might have built up in your alveoli. Better oxygen tends to cause more air to be inhaled and exhaled, which boosts cardiac function.’