Explore the three “gunas”

Explore the three gunas Have you ever heard of the three gunas? The Samkhya philosophy describes the gunas as the threefold characteristics in it’s nature; in this sense every action, thought and event is created due to the interaction of the three gunas. All gunas are always present in all beings and objects surrounding us by … Read more

Improve your concentration with pranayama

  Improve your concentration with pranayama Topic of all the previous articles was the 4th step of the eightfolded path: pranayama. I outlined what pranayama is. Also I’ll paid attention to physical and mental aspects of integrating pranayama in your daily life and I added breathing exercises I practise and might be beneficial for you … Read more

What are the benefits of pranayama?

What are the benefits of pranayama? In his book, Prana and Pranayama, Swami Niranjanda Saraswati writes: “In the yoga text is written that through pranayama one can control one’s circumstances and character and harmonize the individual life with the cosmic life. The aspirant who practises pranayama in a sustained manner will find that every aspect … Read more

The koshas as map to balance yourself

The koshas as map to balance yourself In his book Prana and Pranayama, Swami Niranjananda Saraswati, writes: One who identifies with anandamaya kosha is a yogi. He has evolved to the spiritual realm, where all the experiences are spiritual experiences’. Let’s try to understand this Swami. He writes: “However blockages in other koshas still exist … Read more

Pingala, Ida and Sushumna: the most significant nadis

Nadis In addition to the seven chacras of the subtle body, the scriptures have described a network of subtle channels known as nadis through which the life force (prana) circulates. The Sanskrit word nadi derives from the root nad, which means “flow”, “motion” or “ vibration”. References in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika place the number … Read more

Prana: “life force”!

Prana Let’s talk a bit more about prana. The Sanskrit word prana is a combinatation of two syllables, pra and na and denotes constancy, a force in constant motion. The chhandogya Upanishad (1.11:5) says: “ In prana all moveable and immoveable beings merge during dissolution and rise out of prana (during creation)”. Prana is the … Read more

Kumbhaka: “the yogic trip”

Kumbhaka: the yogic trip Personally I love to perform Kumbhaka. This is the moment when you hold your breath in between the inhalation and the exhalation. I remember, one of my yoga teachers nicknamed the effect of kumbhaka “ the yogic trip”. Why do we keep the breath out? What yogi say is, the period … Read more

What is the key to full yogic breath?

We can differentiate three types of breathing. 1.Clavicle breathing is the most shallow and worst possible type of breathing. The shoulders and collarbone are raised while the abdomen is contracted during inhalation. Maximum effort is made, but a minimum amount of air is obtained. 2.Thoracic breathing is done with the rib muscles expanding the rib … Read more