Pranayama beyond the Fundamentals

by ROSEN, RICHARD

• ISBN13: 9781590302989
• ISBN10: 1590302982
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2006-11-14
• Publisher: Shambhala

Summary

For serious students of yoga who have an established pranayama practice, this book is a follow-up to Rosen's previous book, The Yoga of Breath. Here he picks up where he left off, offering a selection of traditional yogic techniques for those who wish to deepen their practice of pranayama and their understanding of the ancient wisdom of yoga. Rosen skillfully puts forward an array of awareness disciplines, breathing practices, mudras, and seals, interspersed with anecdotes and quotes from ancient texts. The enclosed instructional CD by the author offers a variety of guided practices so that listeners can create their own pranayama series, with guidance from the author in the appendix.

Author Biography

Richard Rosen is a graduate of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco and has been teaching yoga since 1987. He is a contributing editor at Yoga Journal and director of the Piedmont Yoga Studio in Oakland, California. He lives in Berkeley, California.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Colloquy of the Vital Breaths (Prana Samvada)	xi
Introduction: I Take Refuge in the Breath	xiii
PART ONE Background
First Breath: Traditional Hatha Pranayama	3	(5)
When You Need a Helping Hand: Pranayama Props and Tips	8	(15)
PART TWO Body
Channels and Circuits: Most Gracious, Comfort, and Tawny	23	(6)
Here We Go Round: The Spine and Head Circuits	29	(12)
The Eyes Have It: Trataka and Shiva's Seal	41	(5)
Watch Your Tongue: Tongue Corpse and Tongue Bond	46	(7)
I Wanna Hold Your Hand: Two Hand Seals	53	(9)
Wrap and Lift: Two Diaphragm Exercises	62	(7)
Get On Your Mark, Get Set ...: Preparations for Sitting and Breathing	69	(26)
Root and Belly: Two Pranayama Bonds	95	(6)
The Three Greats: Seal, Bond, Piercer	101	(10)
PART THREE Breath
Keep Your Nose Clean: Pranayama and the Nasal Wash	111	(6)
Three ``Sounding'' Breaths: Hissing, Bee, and Skull Brightener	117	(12)
Imagine That! Four ``Imaginary Breathing'' Exercises	129	(12)
Four Traditional Pranayamas: Cooling, Seet-Sound-Making, Floating, and Walking	141	(9)
At Your Fingertips: Introduction to Digital Pranayama	150	(12)
Let Your Fingertips Do the Breathing: Digital Pranayama	162	(12)
The Pause That Refreshes: Breath Retention	174	(11)
Last Last Word	185	(16)
Appendix 1: How to Use the CD for Practice	187	(1)
Appendix 2: Practice Schedule Outline	188	(8)
Appendix 3: Four Traditional Purifications	196	(5)
Notes	201	(4)
Glossary	205	(6)
Recommended Reading	211	(2)
Index of Practices	213