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| On 2005-09-29 15:17:57 -0700, "Moon" <ptp@oninet.pt> said:
> spacecrystal@gmail.com wrote:
Yes. Pranayama is best practiced separate from asana practice. But
this is not a hard and fast rule. I practice it before bed. I may
start with some gentle restorative poses to open the spine. If
practiced before asanas one may get dizzy. As the settled mind becomes
unsettled by the action of the asanas.
I don't think of the astanga as steps - they are more of a circle.
It is possible to mix and match them. Thus when one practices asana,
one still keeps awareness of pranayama(energy,breath); an attitude of
pratyahar (detachement); and of course dharana (concentration) on the
asana itself. Underlying everything is the practice of the yamas &
niyamas. A focused approach to asana will unveil samadhi.
The same is true for a pranayama practice. Requiring pratyahar as an
attitude, dharana on the breath, asana to support the practice etc.
Or in (dhyana) meditation, where all 8 limbs come into play in the form
of "non-action".
The artful balance of yoga is in exploring the 8 limbs and how they
interact with each other. Not so much a program of 8 levels, but more
a system of 8 actions in which we direct our awareness.
[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> Hi
>
> I practice yoga at the end of the day for the same reason: the body is
> much more elastic.
> There are people that defend that in the morning is better; but
> sincerely I prefer in the evening or before going to bed.
I have found in the morning the brain is attentive but the body dull.
At the end of the day the body more attentive and the brain dull.
There are good reasons to practice in both the morning and evening. In
fact I also like to meditate in the mid afternoon as a refreshing break
in the day.
>
> The purpose of sun salutation is precisely to warm the body. Do as many
> as you wish, till your body is heat and flexible.
>
> Sun salution is good to begin the day, but it could be done at night if
> you wish and feel ok(be careful because there are people that can't
> sleep at night).
>
> There are two types of sun salutation:
> - Hatha yoga (for instance is in the book "The Sivananda Companion to
> Yoga") which is easier;
> - Ashtanga yoga (A and B).
>
> ----
> Is not my case, but there are students that need to seat in a zafu:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/gp/search.htm...1&keywords=zafu
If
>
> you don't have one, use a pillow. If you are really inflexibe, use a
> thick pillow. Your coccix is on the pillon, and the knees down. In this
> way your spine will be straight.
>
>
> Moon
In the beginning it may be advantageous to practice Pranayama laying
over a pranayama pillow to open the chest (a rolled blanket can do the
same trick). Often when we are beginners and we sit it is difficult to
get the necessary freedom in the spine especially if we are practicing
for 20 minutes or more.
http://www.matsmatsmats.com/yoga/or...ama-pillow.html
--
~Stu
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