Why Pranayama? - Siobhan Fitzgerald, 'The Chai Sessions'
Siobhan teaches pranayama on our 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training programme here at MCY. She also teaches a regular breath class in-studio and online each month that's open to everyone.
Pranayama is such a vast subject. Pranayama are the breathing exercises and techniques that sit as the 4th limb of yoga in Patanjali's 8-limbed system. Asana, the physical practice and 3rd limb, prepares us for pranayama. Whilst pranayama can help us tap into pratyahara, 'withdrawal of the senses', the 5th limb.
Pranayama is a vital part of the intricate web of practices and tools we call yoga.
In our chat Siobhan and I discuss why you would consider doing a more formal breathing or pranayama practice. We breathe anyway, why do we need to give it extra attention?
We also ask the question, "Is thinking about pranayama as just a breathing practice actually too small?" Pranayama is a whole lot more than just breathing.
Siobhan's approach is rooted in her studies and experiences at the Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute in Lonavla, India. She teaches daily preparation exercises in all her classes that you can do at home. These preparations shift energy and systematically work through the body - lower, middle, wake up the lungs, cleanse and clear the throat, optic nerve and eyes.
These preparations along with kirya (cleansing) pranayamas create a calmer internal environment so we can really be ready for pranayama exercises. Siobhan says, "We have to do the work to experience the beauty and the essence of that flow through the body when we're breathing."
This chai session is stuffed full of great chat to help you understand pranayama better and incorporate it into your daily life. Siobhan even shares a simple breathing exercise you can do at home for a few minutes each day to ground yourself.
Pop the kettle on, get yourself comfy and come and join us.
I hope you enjoy our chat.
You can book Siobhan’s monthly Sunday morning breath classes HERE
Siobhan also has a special Ayurveda for Health Workshop coming up on Saturday 2 July. Her approach to individualising your breathing practice is based in the science of Ayurveda. They go hand in hand, so this workshop will be a lovely compliment. BOOK HERE
If you have any questions email me or find us on social media.
Judi x
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‘The Chai Sessions’
Anyone who has been to Merchant City Yoga on a Sunday knows how much I love catching up with everyone over a cup of my freshly brewed spiced chai. These Sunday chai sessions really bring everyone together, a true celebration of friendship, community and connection.
I want to try and capture some of that magic and share it with you at home. So I've invited some familiar and new faces from our MCY family to chat with me online over a cuppa. I'm affectionately calling them 'The Chai Sessions'.