Advice and precautions should be followeded before starting pranayama

Advice and precautions should be followeded before starting pranayama.

PLACE OF PRACTICE

Should be in a well-ventilated room, where it is calm and quiet. The air in the room should be fresh so that you may freely breathe oxygen. If outside, choose pleasant surroundings like flowers and trees. Do not practice in a strong wind, in the cold, or in air that is dirty, smoky or smells bad.

EXTERNAL DISTURBANCES

Cover the body with a blanket or comfortable garment so that external disturbances such as insects or cold may be avoided.

PRELIMINARY EXERCISES

All techniques and exercises will have an easy variation for beginners. It is very important that these preliminary exercises are successfully performed and understood before the advanced exercise is attempted. You may injure yourself if you do not follow this advice.

STOMACH

Bowls, bladder and intestines should all be empty. Early morning practice is recommended.

SEQUENCE

Pranayama should be practised after asana and yoga nidra, and before meditation.

STEADY POSTURE

Sit in a comfortable, steady posture, with spine and neck held erect but not tense. A cross-legged position provides a firm base for the body and makes a triangular path for the flow of energy. If this is not possible try sitting on a chair.  Do not jerk the body during the exercises.

BREATHING

Each pranayama technique has specific instructions on exactly how to breathe. For maximum benefit try to follow each technique carefully and accurately. Breathing should be through the nose unless specific contradictions are given.

RELAXATION

Throughout the practice the body should be as relaxed and calm as possible. Keep the body still without jerking.  Remember to keep the spine, neck and head erect and centred to assist the flow of prana along the susumna nadi (spinal cord).

STRAIN

Strain should be avoided. The breath should not be retained for longer that is comfortable. This is very important as the lungs are very delicate and any misuse may easily cause them injury. If you feel dizzy, faint or chest pains at any time, stop practicing and rest for at least 10 minutes and seek proper guidance. Do not twist the face muscles while practicing kumbhaka (retention of the breath). Relax the face as much as possible throughout the practice.

PAIN

Pain should never be endured with the practice of Yoga. Pain is treated by the yogi as a stop signal. It is equally relevant to asana.

SHOWER

Do not take a bath or shower for at least half an hour after finishing pranayama exercises.

WARNING

Panayama should never be attempted without guidance from a qualified instructor. It is extremely dangerous to practice pranayama during illness, or while smoking cannabis, tobacco or any other material.

RESTRICTIONS

People suffering from heart disease, respiratory disorders, blood pressure disorders, arteriosclerosis or any other serious illness should seek medical advice before commencing pranayama.