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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
  
Location: A Blue State | When do any of you practice Pranayama? Morning, evening, some other time?
I like to do it before bed, but I'm wondering if there are any advantages to other
times of day. 
Anyway, time to go breathe...
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| morning or evening is best. before sunrise or after sunset, i think you can also practice at noon and midnight. (i dont...)
i think asanas first then pranayama. you should wait an hour after pranayama to do asanas.
for me, in the morning i will practice after my asana practice and in the evening as well. sometimes i skip the evening ones or only do a little bit.
i love pranayama! (but the truth is, at first, i didnt like it at all!!!) |
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| Pranayama is to be practiced:
- when stomach is empty including NO water
- when one is refreshed in mind and body, at least reasonably
- when one has obtainned a stable sitting posture which can be any sittinng posture
The above are must. After this,
timing can be anything.
Neel Kulkarni
www.authenticyoga.org |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
 
| Morning, before eating but after coffee 
BKS teaches pranayama lying down so one does not have to perfect lotus before practicing. |
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| Oops. Yes. Coffee is an exception. Especially, if it is from a) Starbucks, b) Dunkin Donuts c) 7 Eleven or 4) McDonalds. That will work.
Yes, BKS may teach lying down pranayama which is a steady pose. But, this can not continue forever, there are some Pranayama practices, actually all at a later stage which must be done sitting.
Neel Kulkarni
www.authenticyoga.org |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State | Thanks, you guys, for your responses.
I've typically found myself practicing pranayama only about 1.5 hours
after dinner, and that really isn't a sufficiently empty stomach, especially
if you are practicing bahya kumbhaka with uddiyana bandha. So maybe
I need to do this in the early morning, before work, or find some other
time (before lunch?).
Reclining is good for Ujjayi and Viloma pranayama in the beginning stages.
I don't think it would be good for digital pranayama (but I haven't tried).
I think that it's easier to hold Jalandhara Bandha in a sitting pose (otherwise,
I wind up putting a towel under the back of my head).
Coffee is wonderful stuff, especially before morning asana practice. |
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| Off subject, I know, but my vote is for Dunkin Donuts because they get me through building code-asana and building system-asana two mornings a week!
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| I have to offer up the trite but true Denny's for the best coffee--old-style diner mugs, bottomless cups...ain't that America... |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State |
I wonder how the folks in Denny's would react if I did Pranayama in their
waiting area. I mean, getting a table always seems to take forever, and
it would be on an empty stomach.  |
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| kapalabhati for better service? worth a try! now you've got me thinking....a little ujayii and they would want to get us out of there pretty quickly! |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State | Maybe bumble bee pranayama... the noise might annoy them into faster service.
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State |
BTW, does anybody have any experience with pranayama's effect on sleep?
I read something saying not to do kumbhaka (breath retention) before bed
because it will cause insomnia.
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| dear bay guy:
one goes to bed when one feels sleepy. why would like to do kumbhakaa at such a time? it is not good to try some things which are out of the way and do researchh on them as done now a days. that leads to a NON-knowledge, because it takes you away from the absolute knowledge. let me know what you think.
Neel Kulkarni
www.authenticyoga.org |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State | kulkarnn - 2004-11-30 9:27 AM
dear bay guy:
one goes to bed when one feels sleepy. why would like to do kumbhakaa at such a time? it is not good to try some things which are out of the way and do researchh on them as done now a days. that leads to a NON-knowledge, because it takes you away from the absolute knowledge. let me know what you think.
Neel Kulkarni
www.authenticyoga.org
Hi Neel ---
I usually do my pranayama practice in the late evening, not long before going to bed.
That's when I have time for it, unfortunately. Kumbhakas are a part of pranayama
that I have learned from my teacher. But I read someplace else that one should only
do pranayama without kumbhaka if one is practicing before bedtime. So, I was
wondering whether anyone else had had experience with kumbhakas at this time of night.
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| Dear Bay Guy:
Please do not mind my response. I am not offending you or even teaching you. I am sincerely giving you my input.
Again, Pranayama should be practiced only when one is a) Fresh in body and mind b) empty stomach.
Going to bed should be done only when one is Tired and needs rest.
If both the above are followed, then only one gets benefits from them. If this is followed, Kumbhaka can not cause any problem. Actually, in the true Pranayama, Kumbhaka is an important part. This means, if one is NOT doing Kumbhaka, one is NOT doing Pranayama. sa tu baahyaantara stambhavritiH (kumbhaka) deshakaalasa.nkhyaabhiH paridrishto deerghasuukshmaH. Patanjali - second chapter.
Neel Kulkarni
www.authenticyoga.org |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State |
Thanks, Neel. This is helpful, and as you say, the full forms of standard Pranayamas
include Kumbhakas.
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State | Since I have gotten so much good advice on Pranayama from you guys,
let me ask you a very practical question: How do I do my pranayama when
I have a cold? Yes, I have gotten a cold...first one in maybe a year...  |
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| Simple !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Use a hanky
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State |
My cold is almost gone now, and I managed pranayama throughout.
Fortunately, I never got congested as this one was mainly in my
throat. However, I did have some coughing afterward a couple of
times... anyway, go with what your body feels and things seem to
work out.
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| Yes, Bay Guy. If you are able to breath without much strain during the Pranayama Practice regardless of what you call Cold etc., you should continue your practice. However, if you are coughing, feeling feverish, and weak, you should take rest with NO pranayama, and even NO Asanas, I may add.
Neel Kulkarni
www.authenticyoga.org |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State |
I think that life without asanas would be Suffering. Perhaps
Stefan and Thushara can agree on that? |
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Pranayama
