Pranayama for stress and anxiety by Siobhan Fitzgerald
2020 has been a very different year for most of us and one which has brought up many challenges for the nature of the self.
Our nurturing comes from giving and receiving, from touch and from communication, all of which promote a healthy state of love. Even when we do meet each other face to face these days we are restrained from our instinct to embrace each other and share that love.
Anxiety and stress affect our unique natures in different ways and there’s no doubt this year has affected all of us in some way and is testing all of our abilities to cope.
Pranayama is a tool that can be used to help combat stress and anxiety. The nature of the mind and its reaction to anxiety and stress in our nervous system is tempered by the breath. When we practise pranayama techniques we develop a quieter and more peaceful inner world. You can feel this immediately when you start working with pranayama. It instantly lowers the heart rate and produces a feeling of calm. When we learn to bring the breath under our own control, we influence the mind and give ourselves resilience to stress.
Practised regularly pranayama techniques even create change on a cellular level, change which cultivates balance in our endocrine system. Our calm brain stays “on” and our stress brain is far less ”reactive”. This is due to our circadian rhythms realigning and becoming more in balance. As a result, sleep is improved, and restlessness, low mood and uncertainty are all greatly reduced.
The effects of practising pranayama every day are proven to last 24 hours, not just a few hours after the practice. Pranayama is invaluable to those who embrace its beauty.
PRANAYAMA CLASSES AT MCY
Siobhan teaches a monthly pranayama breath class here at MCY. Each month she’ll take you step by step through this breath work. These practices will improve the flow of Prana through the vital paths within you; increase your energy levels and decrease stress (you can feel this immediately!); and enhance many aspects of your life with their long-term benefits.
These monthly classes are perfect for everyone, whether you have an asana, pranayama or meditation practice and want to delve deeper into yoga, or are a complete beginner and want to start by understanding the breath.
Join our next monthly breath class on Sunday 6 December - BOOK NOW
Or check out the dates for our 2021 classes below…
2021 DATES:
Sunday 17 January
Sunday 14 February
Sunday 14 March
Sunday 11 April
Sunday 9 May
Sunday 6 June
What our students say about pranayama
“I joined in Siobhan's pranayama class as during my teacher training with Merchant City I got to experience Siobhan's teachings in person and loved them. She is such a great teacher, so calm and patient. I love the way I feel when I regularly practice pranayama. I had fallen out of practice with them so I joined the online class to help me back into the flow of practising. I felt quite restless before the class, not being able to sit still, and after the class I had such a wave of peace and tranquility wash over me. I have kept up a few of the practices since the class and I am very much looking forward to the next one. The classes worked well online, obviously it would be lovely to see everyone but I got all the benefits from class while sat at home. Thank you.”
Jenni Mouat
“I love Siobhan’s classes, in person and online. Her pranayama teaching was recommended to me by many people and then I met her in the teacher training course at MCY.
I joined her classes because there is very little dedicated, high quality pranayama teaching and Siobhan’s is wonderful. During class, I feel fully supported. She is very knowledgeable and she always introduces the practices carefully and accessibly so it is suitable for complete beginners and more advanced practitioners. I have done pranayama for many years and I still get so much out of her explanations.
Pranayama is a delightful practice and working with Siobhan always makes me feel calm, aware, relaxed and actually very happy. The best way to start a Sunday!
I love doing counted practice afterwards with you as it always feels more balanced, more breath-full. I do practice pranayama in between classes and Siobhan is very good at suggesting practices and progressing students in their breath journey.
Siobhan is so experienced that the transfer of classes online does not make a lot of difference. She still keeps a careful eye on all of us and plans her class carefully to support our respiratory and immune systems at this time.”
Laura Gonzalez
“I’m really enjoying Siobhans pranayama classes. It’s great doing them online as I live up in Aberdeen so wouldn’t be able to attend them in person. I met Siobhan on teacher training 3 years ago and really enjoyed the pranayama practices. It’s something I’ve always wanted to explore further and incorporate into my home practice. Siobhan guides and instructs you into the practices at such a high and knowledgeable level. I always feel very nourished, calm and that I’ve filled up my own cup at the end of class. This Pranayama practice is like hitting the reset button into such a blissful feeling. Since attending the online classes, I’ve been able to incorporate it into my home practice as Siobhan has given me the knowledge and confidence to do this. I really hope the online classes continue so that I can continue to attend. Thank you Siobhan, your classes are so lovely and your a great teacher.”
Linda McKean
“Siobhan’s pranayama classes came along just at the right time for me! I had been working on my asana practice, but had really felt the need to integrate more meditation and pranayama, to create a more holistic approach to my practice. I also felt that I needed more understanding of different pranayama techniques, the benefits and contra-indications, along with instruction to help me to know what to feel. I have really enjoyed participating in Siobhan’s class, with my knowledge and breathing capacity gradually increasing with each session. Siobhan is highly knowledgeable and skilled, and has a pragmatic teaching style, which helps to keep these techniques real and accessible! Like asana practice, I sometimes find that it is one step forward and two back, but I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge! The class really works well online, and in fact it is easier making the commitment in this format. Practicing online at home has actually supported me to develop my own practice at home. Thanks to Judi at MCY for hosting these sessions and helping in continuing my yogic learning journey!”
Susan Taylor
“I first met Siobhan during CYS Yoga Teacher training where we focused on Pranayama and Kriyas. I enjoyed her time so much I’ve continued to go back to her monthly Pranayama breath classes with MCY. Her teaching style is great whether you are an experienced practitioner or novice as she brings a wealth of knowledge into her sessions. With a calm, kind and welcoming manner Siobhan explains each technique or value of the practice with such passion, igniting the curiosity to keep learning about our breath, body & mind!”
Nicole McMahon
“Siobhan walks the talk, sharing her wealth of knowledge and experience to positively impact other people's lives.
I came to class after Siobhan did a led class and a talk on ayurveda at one of my teacher training weekends. Her knowledge, passion and application of pranayama and ayurveda had the whole group spellbound, even the skeptics said they would incorporate some of the information provided, and still do 12 months on. Everyone whether 1st time or regular attender left with a "personalised breathing plan" for the month.
The best thing for me was learning to listen to my body's chatter and understand what it was saying. Establishing a daily practice along with yoga and managing diet helped me stop 4 years of antidepressants and feel I was in charge of me again.
After the classes I feel so chilled but energised at the same time, I saw changes within the month of starting, like any early morning practice, once you are out of bed it was fine. Generally I struggle to make and maintain new habits, not with this, the rewards far outweigh getting up 30 minutes early and have stuck for 10 months now.
When the workshops went online I missed the first couple but was still doing a practice, joining the July online gave me an "oh I've missed this" feeling, it was just like being in the studio and I felt amazing when we finished......I've committed to attend the next ones, we all need that support no matter how long we've been practicing.”
Andrea Slow
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