Pranayama Series
with Lisa Hammond

Pranayama - 4 class series

“When the breath wanders, the mind is unsteady, but when the breath is still, so is the mind still.”  ~The Hatha Yoga Pradipika 

Breathing is something we do on a daily basis.  The body, in a living state, breathes involuntarily whether we are awake, sleeping, or actively exercising.  Breathing is living.  It is a vital function of life.  In yoga, we refer to this as pranayama.  Prana is a sanskrit word that means life force and ayama means extending or stretching.  Thus, the word pranayama translates to the control of life force.  It is also known as the extension of breath.  Every cell in our bodies needs oxygen to function properly.  So, it’s no surprise that research shows that a regular practice of controlled breathing can decrease the effects of stress on the body and increase overall physical and mental health.  

In this 4 class series we will discuss some of the basic pranayama techniques that exist to help you access your nervous system. Each class will be 45 minutes and will include a short movement portion (asana), a discussion of a particular technique (or techniques) of pranayama, a time to practice, and a short Savasana (with a gong sound bath).  This is a 4 class series, with each class building on the previous class (signing up for all 4 is highly encouraged).  Appropriate for beginners or for those wishing to revisit the basics of pranayama.