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Spinal Breathing Pranayama - Journey to Inner Space
"Spinal Breathing Pranayama" is one of the most important practices in all of yoga, producing positive effects in our health, wellbeing, and every aspect of our daily living. Moreover, this simple daily practice purifies and opens us to our ecstatic inner realms, taking us on an exciting journey to Inner Space. The consequences of this journey are as practical as they are profound. This book provides easy-to-read instructions for beginning and continuing with the practice of "Spinal Breathing Pranayama," addressing in a surprising degree of detail the many experiences and questions that can come up. Yogani is the author of two landmark books on the world's most effective spiritual "Advanced Yoga Practices - Easy Lessons for Ecstatic Living," a comprehensive user-friendly textbook, and "The Secrets of Wilder," a powerful spiritual novel. The "AYP Enlightenment Series" makes these profound practices available for the first time in a series of concise instruction books. "Spinal Breathing Pranayama" is the second book in the series. The first is "Deep Meditation – Pathway to Personal Freedom."
113 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2006
57 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Yogani
101 books55 followersYogani is the author of the Advanced Yoga Practices (AYP) system, including more than a dozen Instructional Titles available in Paperback, eBook and AudioBook editions, covering all aspects of Full-Scope Yoga Practice. Since 1970, he has crossed the lines between many traditions, developing an effective integration of methods including Deep Meditation, Spinal Breathing Pranayama, Hatha, Kundalini, Tantra, Self-Inquiry, and more. It is a flexible, scientific approach rather than a rigid, arbitrary one, and open to public scrutiny, as all spiritual knowledge should be nowadays. He has no desire for guru status - only to have the joy of making a small contribution to helping the disciplines of spiritual practice become open to everyone. He wishes to remain anonymous, preserving a quiet life in practices. AYP is not about the author. It is about all who long for knowledge.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 15, 2021
Spinal Pranayama is a preparatory technique for deep meditation. This technique conducts and balances your life-energy or prana, creating a state called "Ecstatic Conductivity". This is the dynamic, opposite state that arises mutually with the state of "Inner Silence" cultivated by deep meditation. "Inner Silence" has the quality of bliss, and "Ecstatic Conductivity" has the quality of Ecstasy. When bliss and ecstasy join, you enter into a state called "ecstatic bliss" or enlightenment, Kundalini Awakening, liberation, etc.
Yogani suggests that you start by practicing the technique for 5 minutes before your meditation, gradually moving up to 10 minutes at your own pace. Here are the technique and key takeaways.
SPINAL PRANAYAMA TECHNIQUE:
1) Sit in a comfortable seated posture and slow breathing to slowest comfortable pace
2) Imagine a tube/nerve the size of a thread running through the center of your spinal column from your perineum to your third eye (brow).
3) Follow this thread-like nerve from perineum to brow on your inhalation, follow it from brow to perineum on exhalation
OPTIONAL ADDITIONS TO ENHANCE PRANAYAMA
1) Yogic breathing: Inhale into belly, then chest, then collar bones. Exhale through collar bones, then chest, then belly
2) Open throat on inhalation, contract throat (glottis) on exhalation creating a slight hissing sound
3) Gently lift eyes (shambavi mudra): Place slight furrowing intention on center of brow, gently direct gaze upwards. Don't force or over exert. Stimulates third eye. Only a physical feature, attention remains on breath up and down.
4) Notice cool/warm breath currents: purse lips on inhale, notice cool air going into lungs. purse lips on exhale, notice warmth of air leaving our lungs. Now do this without pursed lips and notice the same thing.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
-Spinal pranayama is preparation for meditation. We travel to inner space during pranayama, we BECOME inner space during meditation. Pranayama cultivates neurobiology for smooth flow of prana. Meditation cultivates inner silence in nervous system.
-Follow THE PROCEDURE: Gently favor breathing and tracing of spinal nerve. If we lose track of what we're doing, simply return to breath. If the additional optional steps distract too much from the breathing, you may be doing too much at once. Add one element at a time.
-do not try to meditate while doing spinal pranayama. pranayama compliments meditation, but it is not an effective standalone practice. Alone, pranayama purifies and opens our nervous system, but without meditation afterwards to cultivate inner silence, our nervous system is left vulnerable to internal influences in the mind, and external influences in our environment
-self pacing. You're driving your car on a straightaway. You can go fast with little risk. You approach a windy section of mountain road, so you slow down. Pranayama is like that. If you feel that purification symptoms are arising too fast or powerfully, you slow down
Yogani suggests that you start by practicing the technique for 5 minutes before your meditation, gradually moving up to 10 minutes at your own pace. Here are the technique and key takeaways.
SPINAL PRANAYAMA TECHNIQUE:
1) Sit in a comfortable seated posture and slow breathing to slowest comfortable pace
2) Imagine a tube/nerve the size of a thread running through the center of your spinal column from your perineum to your third eye (brow).
3) Follow this thread-like nerve from perineum to brow on your inhalation, follow it from brow to perineum on exhalation
OPTIONAL ADDITIONS TO ENHANCE PRANAYAMA
1) Yogic breathing: Inhale into belly, then chest, then collar bones. Exhale through collar bones, then chest, then belly
2) Open throat on inhalation, contract throat (glottis) on exhalation creating a slight hissing sound
3) Gently lift eyes (shambavi mudra): Place slight furrowing intention on center of brow, gently direct gaze upwards. Don't force or over exert. Stimulates third eye. Only a physical feature, attention remains on breath up and down.
4) Notice cool/warm breath currents: purse lips on inhale, notice cool air going into lungs. purse lips on exhale, notice warmth of air leaving our lungs. Now do this without pursed lips and notice the same thing.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
-Spinal pranayama is preparation for meditation. We travel to inner space during pranayama, we BECOME inner space during meditation. Pranayama cultivates neurobiology for smooth flow of prana. Meditation cultivates inner silence in nervous system.
-Follow THE PROCEDURE: Gently favor breathing and tracing of spinal nerve. If we lose track of what we're doing, simply return to breath. If the additional optional steps distract too much from the breathing, you may be doing too much at once. Add one element at a time.
-do not try to meditate while doing spinal pranayama. pranayama compliments meditation, but it is not an effective standalone practice. Alone, pranayama purifies and opens our nervous system, but without meditation afterwards to cultivate inner silence, our nervous system is left vulnerable to internal influences in the mind, and external influences in our environment
-self pacing. You're driving your car on a straightaway. You can go fast with little risk. You approach a windy section of mountain road, so you slow down. Pranayama is like that. If you feel that purification symptoms are arising too fast or powerfully, you slow down
April 30, 2024
Well written and easy to apply
This is the second book in the AYP series written by Yogani. As in the first book, Yogani explains the practice simply enough early on in the book and then dedicates the rest of the book to discuss the benefits of the practice, how to properly conduct it and answering all the questions that may arise. It's as if Yogani is having a 101 conversation with you and leaves nothing (or almost nothing unanswered).
This is the second book in the AYP series written by Yogani. As in the first book, Yogani explains the practice simply enough early on in the book and then dedicates the rest of the book to discuss the benefits of the practice, how to properly conduct it and answering all the questions that may arise. It's as if Yogani is having a 101 conversation with you and leaves nothing (or almost nothing unanswered).
April 9, 2018
really good and detailed book on different stages and experiences of meditation
December 13, 2021
Great meditation practice
January 24, 2015
Yogani's simple approach and expression puts everything on the table from the very beginning. His gentle, easy going style opens this advance pranayamic practice to everyone.
His approach fits right in with the gradual pranayama tradition. In fact, I would venture to say he is the most laid back pranayama teacher out there. No durations, no counts, no amounts, no pressure: "Come as you are and practice what you can," sums up his teaching style.
Self-pacing is one way in which Yogani supports and encourages the practitioner. Instead of setting outrageous practice parameters or insane sequences of breathing, he begins with a really simple starting point and then moves on to give the reader room to extend their practice at their own pace and ability. There is no pressure, no deadline, no anxiety.
Another facet of his teaching that makes it accessible to others is its simplicity. He starts with just a very basic breathing and visualization technique and only later adds to them in order to amplify and support what has already been established.
There will be those who see the simplicity of his practice as being, too basic, as if, because it is not complex it is "obviously" not spiritual enough for them. That's okay, there are plenty of other authors out there for them. For those who wish to start or even keep their practice as "simple and stable" as possible, this is a good book for you.
The information Yogani gives regarding the signs, symptoms, and consequences of Spinal Breathing actually applies to pranayama in general. In saying, i hope to deter the reader from assuming that the many gifts Yogani talks about in his book are somehow only connected to Spinal Breathing. The gifts Yogani talks about can be found in alternate nostril breathing, Qi Gong and Martial Arts breathing, Tai Chi and Daoist breathing, or just a steady awareness of our natural, soft and deep breathing.
I give this book five stars not because he is the only one that shares this technique, but because i feel his teaching style will help the practitioner approach pranayama in a more open, soft, gradual, and relaxed way. Couple Yogani's text with Donna Farhi's, The Breathing Book and Thich Nhat Hanh's, Breathe, You are Alive!, i feel the yogi will gain the right attitude and energy to best approach pranayama.
His approach fits right in with the gradual pranayama tradition. In fact, I would venture to say he is the most laid back pranayama teacher out there. No durations, no counts, no amounts, no pressure: "Come as you are and practice what you can," sums up his teaching style.
Self-pacing is one way in which Yogani supports and encourages the practitioner. Instead of setting outrageous practice parameters or insane sequences of breathing, he begins with a really simple starting point and then moves on to give the reader room to extend their practice at their own pace and ability. There is no pressure, no deadline, no anxiety.
Another facet of his teaching that makes it accessible to others is its simplicity. He starts with just a very basic breathing and visualization technique and only later adds to them in order to amplify and support what has already been established.
There will be those who see the simplicity of his practice as being, too basic, as if, because it is not complex it is "obviously" not spiritual enough for them. That's okay, there are plenty of other authors out there for them. For those who wish to start or even keep their practice as "simple and stable" as possible, this is a good book for you.
The information Yogani gives regarding the signs, symptoms, and consequences of Spinal Breathing actually applies to pranayama in general. In saying, i hope to deter the reader from assuming that the many gifts Yogani talks about in his book are somehow only connected to Spinal Breathing. The gifts Yogani talks about can be found in alternate nostril breathing, Qi Gong and Martial Arts breathing, Tai Chi and Daoist breathing, or just a steady awareness of our natural, soft and deep breathing.
I give this book five stars not because he is the only one that shares this technique, but because i feel his teaching style will help the practitioner approach pranayama in a more open, soft, gradual, and relaxed way. Couple Yogani's text with Donna Farhi's, The Breathing Book and Thich Nhat Hanh's, Breathe, You are Alive!, i feel the yogi will gain the right attitude and energy to best approach pranayama.
August 31, 2014
Another good book in the series. Clear instructions with minimal fluff.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews