Working with the sub divisions of the pranamaya kosha; the second layer of our being made of Life.

This life is vital in the fact it is something we are born with and live with until the day we leave the body.

It’s nature is to keep this body together, keep the systems moving and help us to evolve.

How it does this is by a free flowing movement outwards and back in; expansion and contraction.

It’s moved by currents known as vayus and it moves along the nadis; subtle channels that are not physical channels. It is likened  to electricity running.

Prana moves from the navel centre at Manipura chakra, expanding and contracting.

It enlivens the pranic body and we feel this in the physical and mental sense.

However the mental attachments we pick up along the way in life and the karmic patterns    create attachments and the pranic force cannot expand fully or go back fully.

These are obstacles we need to clear through asana and pranayama.

Pranayama is the purification practice, it is a threefold process. From manipura expanding outwards when we physically breathe in, contracting back in when we physically breathe out.

And a stillness known as kumbhaka at the centre when there is no breath and this is done after physically exhaling.

Once we understand that the breath is just moving in synchronisation we then can stay with pranayama practice as this is what purifies and not the physical breath as that is respiration in the physical body.

This is different  to breath and it is a subtle force of moving currents in the pranic body. This is where all mind and the attachments to physical body lie.

Once we see this with direct experience we are truly opening up the mind from its attachment to physical/ material aspect via senses.

This week we will be exploring and experiencing the Samana Vayu, the movement sideways from Manipura and back.

We can experience the expansion and experience of consciousness that is not attached to body,

When we release the physical body we feel expansive, light, joyous, free…

Ref Pranayama Lost in Translation by Angela Ashwin

Om Shanti