The Yoga Tutor

Rhythmic Breathing
[ Excerpt from The Science of Yoga, page 230 ]

In yoga we recognize the relationship between rhythm and health.

A state of harmony is one of 'rhythmic synchronicity'. Ill-health is merely a disjointed and non-rhythmic state of the being. Nature itself is a harmonious interplay of the rhythms or cycles.

The cycles of nature flow with regularity from birth to growth to fruition to dissolution again. Harmony and health exist in tune with the rhythms of nature. Therefore, the re-establishment of health and harmony necessitates the restoration of natural rhythm.

In the human biology, the central mechanism of rhythm and harmony is the breath. When one's breath is chaotic and disorganised, then one's mind and emotions are likewise "off-kilter," which invariably translates into the physical form as disharmony and disease.

The yogis, therefore, have always looked toward the breath for the establishment of balance and well-being. There are numerous "rhythmic breaths" within the field of pranayama which are utilized in the harmonizing of the pranas (vital airs) and the pancha kosha, the 5 bodies of man, for the re-establishment and maintenance of overall health and well-being.

Next, I'll introduce you to the savitri pranayama, the classical "rhythmic breath," which will become an important tool in many of our ensuing yoga practices.

[Continued...]


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NOTE: This yoga article is an excerpt from The Science of Yoga, an online yoga training program with streaming yoga videos and 600 pages of step-by-step yoga instruction.


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Learn More About
The Science of Yoga Course

Foreword
About Yoga Home Study
Section 1 - Getting Started
Section 2 - Foundations of Yoga (1)
Section 3 - Foundations of Yoga (2)
Section 4 - Classical Ashtanga Yoga
Section 5 - Modern Yoga
Section 6 - The History of Yoga
Section 7 - Yama Niyama Introduction
Section 8 - Awareness
Section 9 - The Yoga Diet
Section 10 - Yoga Philosophy
Section 11 - The Yoga of Perception
Section 12 - The Yoga Path
Section 13 - The Virtue of Restraint
Section 14 - The Classical Yoga Texts
Section 15 - Yoga Cleansing
Section 16 - The Law of Cause and Effect
Section 17 - The Yoga of Digestion
Section 18 - Yoga Psychology
Section 19 - Yoga Psychology (Part 2)
Section 20 - Yoga Psychology (Part 3)
Section 21 - Yoga Psychology (Part 4)
Section 22 - Controlling The Senses
Section 23 - The Higher Stages of Yoga
Section 24 - Higher Stages of Yoga (Part 2)