Our next steps will be looking at breath work along with meditation, postures, and poses.  Don’t worry!  This section is shorter than the last.  😉

First, we’ll look at the breath.  In yoga, the breath is said to carry a person’s life force and is referred to as Pranayama.

“Prana” means life force or breath sustaining the body

“Ayama” translates as “to extend or draw out.”

So, when put together, they mean breath extension or control.

Breath is a major component of yoga and is sometimes forgotten, because we become so focused on the movements/poses.  There are many different types of breath that are used during yoga, and they are all great to have in your “toolbox” for when you’re feeling anxious, stressed, nervous, etc.  Examples include: Lion’s Breath, Ujjayi Pranayama (Victorious Breath or Ocean Breath), 4-7-8 breathing, etc.  Check out the descriptions and start practicing them by clicking on the link below.  She describes them perfectly!

https://www.doyouyoga.com/the-7-best-yoga-breathing-exercises-both-on-and-off-your-mat/

This brings me to meditation, which breath is an important part of.  Meditation, especially for the Christian yogi, is not about “clearing the mind”.  Wikipedia defines meditation as, “a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing their mind on a particular object, thought or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.”  I love how Headspace describes it. “Meditation isn’t about becoming a different person, a new person, or even a better person. It’s about training in awareness and getting a healthy sense of perspective. You’re not trying to turn off your thoughts or feelings. You’re learning to observe them without judgment. And eventually, you may start to better understand them as well.”  What a great description, right?!  Meditation can be done on your own, with an instructor, and/or with a guide.  The guide verbally walks you through the meditation by using cues, nature sounds, music, etc.  With Holy Yoga, meditation is focused on being in the presence of the Holy Spirit, can be guided while being still in God’s presence, and/or focuses on scripture.

Postures and poses (AKA “asanas”) are the physical movement of the body during a yoga practice.  This includes all of the poses you’ve (maybe) heard of like, “Tree pose, Camel, Downward Dog,” and so many more.  Feel free to search for poses online!  There are many different diagrams, images, and even videos.  (Just be warned, that you may find incorrect postures/poses, so it is better to seek instruction from someone who is certified.)