Years ago my teacher Max Strom told me, “If you really want to experience the power of yoga , commit to steady, deep rhythmic breathing.” I loved his classes because he was a “breath nag”. In other words, he was more interested in teaching us to breathe through challenges and use the breath to FEEL more deeply and move energy more consciously than he was getting us into poses. At Wisdom Flow Yoga we are following Max’s example. All our classes offer clear breathing instructions and consistent reminders to allow the breath to lead the journey, but we have two special classes each week that really dive deep into Pranayama.
Sarah Gray teaches Prana Slow Flow Mondays 10:30AM – Noon and Ember Brehrendt teaches Prana Slow Flow Wednesdays 10:30AM – Noon. These classes begin with clear breath focus and move slowly enough that we don’t lose focus on the breath as the primary practice. Each week a new aspect of pranayama is introduced. The role of breathe and bandha in moving energy and affecting neuro-endriconology is emphasized as students learn to follow the breath inward for healing and visionary meditations. Make these classes part of your self-care and self-growth practices.
I have found the breath is the most powerful and accessible tool for healing and opening body and mind and I want our students to discover that too. Dr. Joe Dispenza says, “The human body is an instrument and much like an instrument it needs to be tuned. Stress knocks us out of balance and moves us from living in creation to living in survival.” A lot of us live our lives in a state of constant survival stress. The body does not know if the threats are real (physical) or perceived (psychological). The effects are the same.What we may not realize is this constant state of survival-focus creates a very specific type of brain wave called high-Beta. These brain waves cue the nervous system to respond to potential threats. When we’re in high-Beta we are focusing outward. This ramps up our endocrine system to produce stress chemicals to help us get through the moment. But if the moment never passes our body can never recover. People who live chronically in high-Beta are much more susceptible to illness and chronic conditions like high blood pressure, anxiety and digestive disturbances – to name a few.
Yoga is designed to move brain waves from high-Beta to the first layer of the subconscious – the alpha brain state. In alpha, our breathing naturally slows and gets rhythmic, the voice in our head quiets. When we hold this more coherent state in the brain we are training ourselves to respond to stress differently, more effectively, and with more grace and self-respect. We are also preparing ourselves for meditation. As the breath rates slows and deepens further the logical mind quiets and the creative calm brain awakens. We learn to relax within an aroused state, into the theta and delta states where we allow the healing and rejuvenation of our brain and body’s physiology. Come breathe and move with us. It feels so good.