Pranayama is a Sanskrit word meaning, “breathe control.” It is one of the eight limbs of yoga outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali which serves as the foundational text for a yoga practice. Pranayama is used to control the energy within the body to enhance the mind and spirit. It can be practiced anytime, anywhere. You do not have to be on your mat. Traditionally, pranayama is focused at the beginning of a yoga class and carried on throughout the practice. When you focus on your breathe, you become more present and aware of your surroundings. More importantly, it shuts the chatter off in your head which can be very challenging during recovery.
Take a few minutes a day and practice pranayama. Start with equal parts breath. Inhale for a count of 4-6 and exhale for a count of 4-6. As you continue with equal parts breathe you may find that the counts become higher. This will create a sense of calmness and enhance your mind, body and spirit.
“Sometimes the best thing that you can do is not think, not wonder, not imagine, not obsess, just breathe and have faith that everything will work out for the best.” Nishan Panwar
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