Pranayama - the forth limb of yoga

Pranayama is the forth (out of eight) limb of yoga.

"Prana" means breath, life, vitality. "ayama" means stretch, extension, length.
Pranayama means the prolongation of breath and its restraint.

"When the breath is irregular the mind is wavers: When the breath is steady, so is the mind"
Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Did you know that the breath is your most intimate companion?

It has been following you since you were born, 10-20 times a minute non-stop! (In average a person breathe 15 breaths in 1 minuet)

And yet, most of us don't  know how to use it properly and are not aware of the benefits of the breathing techniques .

Here are some of them: relaxation, concentration, balancing the mind, firing the body/mind, cooling down  the body/mind....

The great thing about the breath-tool is that it's free, it is portable, easy to carry with you anywhere you go, you do not have to pack anything ...

Are your inhalation and exhalation even in length?
How many breaths do you breathe in a minute?

How can you slow your breath down?

Asana - the third limb of yoga

Asana is the third (out of eight) limb of yoga.
In the very old days Asana meant "to seat", probably  in meditation posture
With time it turned to mean a body posture, and then, the physical practice of yoga.

"Sthira sukham asanam" Poture should be steady and comfortable.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 2.46 Bryant's translation.

According the Scriptures Asana should be practiced because:
1.  It prepares the body to be able to stay in seating meditation posture for a long time.
2.  It creates "tapas", heat that purify body and mind.
3.  It loses all awareness of the sensation of the body. the mind can now be focused in meditation  without being distracted by the body.

What is your favourite Asana? What is your less favourite Asana? Why?

Niyama - the second limb of Yoga

Niyama is the second  (out of eight) limb of Yoga.
Practicing the Niyamas helps to channel the energies of  the sense of perception in the right direction.
It contains five personal practices:

1. Saucat - cleanliness, purity
Purity and cleanliness protect and purify the body and make it a fit home for the soul
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 2.40, Iyengar's translation.
2. Santosat - contentment 
From containment and benevolence of consciousness comes supreme happiness
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 2.42, Iyengar's translation
3. Tapas - self discipline
Self - discipline burns away impurities and kindles the sparks of divinity
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 2.43, Iyengar's translation
4. Svadyaya - self study or reading the scriptures 
Self study  has two paths: One is for communicating from skin towards the soul. The other from soul to God The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 2.44, Iyengar's translation
5. Isvara Pranidhanat -  surrender to the Divine.
Serender to God brings perfection in samadhi (the final stage of the practice) 
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 2.45, Iyengar's translation

Which Niyama is the most challenging for you?