Being Yoga through breath

In a recent episode of the Keen on Yoga podcast, Doug Keller (faculty on Yogacampus Advanced Teacher Pathway) shares his focus on pranayama this year. He talks about periodic breath retention and its effect on cellular renewal, the production of nitric oxide through nasal breathing, and the mounting research connecting breath practice to cognitive and cardiovascular health.  All of this, he suggests, already implicit in centuries-old teachings on Prana and the Nadis, just described in a different language.

Listen: Keen on Yoga Podcast — Doug Keller episode, around 12min 30sec for the section on his current pranayama work - also where he mentions Yogacampus!

A reflection for your own practice: Pranayama involves being present in our 'bodyfulness' - a guiding principle is the sensation of breath.  Sensation occurs in the present moment. Sensation helps us to leave our minds alone, to observe, to be present.  When we are in the state of yoga, we become the observer.  

(sitting in a Redwood, 2014)