Foundations of Himalayan Ujjayi Pranayama

[guest88]

https://hansavedas.org/event/21-sept-2019/

Breathe the living breath of lifeforce! Experience an up close and beginner level hands on workshop on Himalayan siddha breathing techniques.

...You will be taught this pranayama by activating the psoas in a way that allows for a three-dimensional cylindrical breathing. The breath is controlled by breathing from the core, and prolonged using the ujjayi method of inhalation.

...A practitioner of this ujjayi pranayama technique takes a stepwise approach:
(1) Activating the psoas during breathing, (2) Feeling the breath down the pelvis, (3) Controlling the thoraco-pelvic breath from the core (five fingers below the belly-button), (4) making the breath deeper and prolonged by using the ujjayi method. (5) Applying kumbhaka breathhold for a suspension of the breath without struggle, using the same singular effort used for the inhalation.

...Calmness is experienced during the breaths and during the pauses in between. The gentle guided movement of the spine and the sternum brings about emotional release. Practice of this correct breathwork is highly conducive for meditation, vitality and wellness.

September 21st 9:30AM-1:30PM location disclosed on website.

Kjos, I am really excited for you!! 

The food guidlines say to avoid mucous generating foods today and to try and avoid breakfast on Saturday. Light snack or fruit is acceptable, herbal tea is fine but practicing pranayama on an empty stomach is best. If you must eat do so no later than 7:30AM for digestion.

For those unable to attend, here is free content on ujjayi pranayama courtesy of the Hansavedas Fellowship-
https://multimedia.hansavedas.org/free-content/season:3

[guest88]

Breath is the link between body and mind. Breathing is fulfilling and helps release emotions. Deep breathing may alter our perception allowing us to pause for reflection. We all experience that our awareness is connected with breathwork. When we are in awe of tranquility, the breath often pasues as in a breathtaking moment. We seem to catch our breath and recognize the moment. Thus Yoga philosophy places breathing as the bridge between the tangible and the intangible, at the cusp of the physical and the subtle.

...Awareness of natural and regular breath movement is said to be the forerunner of mindfulness. To be present with each moment while naturally aware of the breath is a hallmark of mindfulness.

...Concentration is dependent on the rhythm of the restful breathing, wherein the breathwork brings about a focus free from distracting thoughts and emotions. Conequest of internal chatter is then flooded by peace.

...Yogis train beginners in meditation to feel the normal breath first touching the mid-point between the two eyebrows and then merging into the heart area. A subtle movement sensation in the sternum brings focus into the center of the chest. This is said to increase awareness of sentience and the preciousness of breath.

by Swami Vidyadhishananda
Full discourse at,
https://hansavedas.org/breathing-from-the-core/

[guest88]

With breath work I am noticing step 3 is becoming more natural. That is to say, when you inhale you roll the bladder out and when you exhale you slowly bring it back in towards the spine. The success of kryia yoga depends on right posture. This is something Yogananda was also big on and emphasised in God Talks With Arjuna. As taught in GTWA Yogananda says Asana (right posture) supports the ability to invoke divine life energy in preparation for the practice of life-force control.

* Steady body with straight, erect spine
* Chin parallel to the ground
* Shoulders back, chest out, abdomen in
* Eyes focused at the center between the eyebrows
"Be still and unmoving, without strain or tension" -Paramahansa Yogananda

Below we see the obvious parallel, both students of Kriya Yoga. Taken from, https://hansavedas.org/kriyayoga/ please click the link to see the detailed images.

Kriya Breathing Features

The initial success of kriayoga practice depends on establishing ekasana sitting and the correct implementation of the pranayama technique. In summary the steps taught are as follows:

1. Sitting in a steady and aligned posture with neuromuscular relaxation (slackened effort of the muscles).

2. Developing the focus in the midpoint of the eyebrows (bhrumadhya), and feeling a comfortable countenance wherein the physical body feels as if anaesthized or earthed. Physical disturbances are overcome.

3. Controlling the ujjayi breath and its pauses using the core in front of the bladder (fingers interlaced in front of the bladder); the core is distended when inhaling and pulled in when exhaling (the centre of the core is five fingers below the belly button).

4. Feeling the ujjayi breath in the pelvis by full activation of the myofascial psoas (this fuller psoas range allows unhindered movement of the diaphragm, and is further optimized by the physical aspects of kriya-mahamudra practice).

5. Refining the ujjayi breathing while reposed in the midpoint of the two eyebrows, making the breath subtle and long with no struggle during the short pauses.

6. Directing from within the midpoint of the eyebrows the subtle ujjayi piercing the chakra-discs along the hollow spinal tube (synchronized with Ong (Om) implantation). The kryia-pranayama falls apart when steady repose in the midpoint in between the eyebrows is lost.

7. The pranayama can be thus directed from muladhara (root-chakra) to mula nadi (posterior fontanel) extending from medulla alongside the back of the head as shown in the animated diagram at the bottom of this page. An alternate route of guiding prana from the medulla to the midpoint of eyebrows is also taught. However the diagrams only show the mula pathway to the posterior fontanel.

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

Namaste Eric did you go to a class on this?  It seems to be focused on a mantra ; not specifically kriya. Please tell me if this differs from Kriya . Thanks

[guest88]

Hi Steve,
I missed the class but believe that day was guided with mantra technique. The last post however is a direct link to kriya yoga; in this thread I am finding the relation and importance of posture, technique and successful pranayama.

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

Hi Steve,
I missed the class but believe that day was guided with mantra technique. The last post however is a direct link to kriya yoga; in this thread I am finding the relation and importance of posture, technique and successful pranayama.

Yes I found this below in the thread. I wonder how many names Mahavatar Bababji has? It seems you have found another path to Kriya Yoga Eric. I wonder how many there are? You appear to be following Vidyadhishananda. Is he also connected to Gurunath or is that a separate lineage? They seem all connected by Babaji but I wonder where you are learning Kriya? From Gurunath or Yidyahishananda?

“The kriyāyoga of the Himalayan Mountains is a surviving ancient practice of the adept (siddha) lineages of Himalaya and is currently overseen by the great siddha Tryambakanātha (also spelled as Tryambaknath) who is also popularly known as Mahavatar Babaji.”

What I find is an incredible gratefulness for having the friendship of other seekers on the spiritual path. Meditation being a similar practice of all of us here. I think my mind has come to appreciate the many paths people take in their spiritual practice. I hope to understand the paths of others and have already witnessed the inspiration generated by the experiences and the paths taken by those who have given their time and effort to help understanding in spiritual awakening and practice.

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

It seems like I am constantly aware of my breath. The inhalation’s and exhalations and pauses in between even while lying awake before sleeping. I see that a constant interest in meditation does this to me and also makes me constantly aware of my thoughts. It is possible to practice mantras even while relaxing and lying down.

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

Hi Steve,
I missed the class but believe that day was guided with mantra technique. The last post however is a direct link to kriya yoga; in this thread I am finding the relation and importance of posture, technique and successful pranayama.

Yea there is a lot of thought and guidance here about what appears simple; the breath. Never really been exposed to the term Ujjayi although I believe the guided meditations at the Lake Shrine on Thursday’s in Pacific Palisades covered many of the concepts elaborated on in these presentations. I come back to them here when my mind is focused and willing to assimilate.

[guest88]

Hi Bro,

I haven't been initiated into Kriya. I had the privilege of meeting Swami V thanks to Kjos our newer member here. From Sufism to Himalayan monks and other masters, Spirit has lead me up to this point. I still feel a close discipleship to Inayat Khan but can say that I am now quipped with an arsenal of wisdom given to us by the many gurus we have shared at this portal. It is likened to a spiders web whose luminous threads represent a part of the whole. I can say there are at least 6 teachers off the top of my head that I feel a closeness to. I am so very grateful for Spirit and the friends who have lead me to this point.

Hazrat Inayat Khan says it all in the ten sufi principles...

1) There is one God, the Eternal, the Only Being; none else exists save God.

2) There is one Master, the Guiding Spirit of all souls, who constantly leads all followers towards the light.

3) There is one Holy Book, the sacred manuscript of nature, which truly enlightens all readers.

4) There is one Religion, the unswerving progress in the right direction towards the ideal, which fulfils the life's purpose of every soul.

5) There is one Law, the law of Reciprocity, which can be observed by a selfless conscience together with a sense of awakened justice.

6) There is one human Brotherhood, the Brotherhood and Sisterhood which unites the children of earth indiscriminately in the Fatherhood of God.

7) There is one Moral Principle, the love which springs forth from self-denial, and blooms in deeds of beneficence.

There is one Object of Praise, the beauty which uplifts the heart of its worshipper through all aspects from the seen to the unseen.

9) There is one Truth, the true knowledge of our being within and without which is the essence of all wisdom.

10) There is one Path, the annihilation of the false ego in the real, which raises the mortal to immortality and in which resides all perfection.

Please look at principle 2- I see that Guiding Spirit working through Amma, Gurunath, Anandamayi Ma... So many...

At this time I can say I am not actively seeking a new path but to try and learn from what Spirit has layed before me and execute proper action... Thanks for the question. With that being said, Babaji has blessed both of these masters. The only way I can describe the vibe between Swami V and Gurunath based off my limited experience thus far is like book smarts vs street smarts. Yet in all of these great servants of humanity the message is the same.