A yogi measures the span of life by the number of breaths, not by the number of years.
-Swami Sivanandi

This morning we met for our breakfast in silence. We enjoyed the fruit that was prepared for us by the Anamaya Staff. If we caught the eye of another yogi we might flash a grin or make a face. We happily spread our yoga mats on the beautiful upper deck for practice after breakfast. From day one Banyan has put a lot of emphasis on our breathing during practice. Of course we practiced “normal” breathing but today we learned about Bandhas. We learned that there are three: mula, uddiyana and jalandhara.  Our first official breathing technique as a group was  Uddiyana Bandha (Sanskrit: उड्डियान बंध, Uḍḍiyāna Bandha). Bandhas subtly allow energy to flow. Uddiyana assists the digestive system and strengthens the immune system. It is also known to help  “balance the mind, soothe irritability and anger and dispels a depressive mood.”  It was kind of fun getting in touch with the breath in a different way. After our morning practice we talked about how much of  a challenge it was but we really enjoyed it.

 Peace, Love & Deep Breathing