Advice for non-SB Pranayama

[johndemol]

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice on non spinal breathing pranayama.
I hope it's OK for me to request it here.

I want to (re)start doing some pranayama daily.
I want to do Anulom Vilom and Kapal Bhati. I prefer these two over SB.

I need some advice on how to start with these. In the past, I have done pranayama, but jumped in to fast. Now, I want it to be smoother and not such a rollercoaster ride.

What kind of progressive routine can you recommend?

Thank you.
John

[Christi]

Hi John,

Yogani recommends starting meditation practice first, so if you have not done so yet then do. See here:

http://www.aypsite.com/plus/10.html

Pranayama can be added in after you have developed a stable meditation routine. Alternate nostril breathing (without breath retention) and Kapal Bhati are not powerful practices, which is why they are often taught in beginner yoga classes in the West. I would add alternate nostril breathing first. Yogani discusses it in this post:

http://www.aypsite.com/plus-forum/index.php?topic=4139#35423

Then you could add Kapal Bhati when you are stable with Anulom Vilom. Yogani discusses Kapal Bhati in the "Diet shatkarmas and amoroli" book.

There is a discussion by Yogani on how to plan your practice routine and move forward safely here:

http://www.aypsite.com/plus/38.html

You may find after a while that you want to add spinal breathing as it is a form of pranayama which goes further than most as far as purifying the nervous system goes.

Christi

[johndemol]

Hi Christi,

Thank you so much for your answer!!
I appreciate it very much.

I'm already meditating once a day. Guess I should extend that to twice a day.

In an earlier Pranayama attempt I started too quickly with SB, it wasn't so nice. That's why I, initially at least, prefer the other two exercises.

Thanks again, Christi!