Notes from 2/6/15 Post Pranayama with extended Breath Retention

2/6/15

Notes post Pranayama with extended breath retention:

Trainee Reactions:

Tightness in the nostrils: comparison to a breathing test: unpleasant

Pain in the center of the throat

Panic

Vibrating, frenetic energy

Heart pounding: scary

Anxiety – fear and pain: “It hurt.”

Exhale quality- desperate, terrible

Double exhale

What do you think your handwriting would be like? (Colleen)

A lot of extra breaths necessary afterward to recover

Tension everywhere

Cleaning the slate took a while

Skin of the face, like stone

Pressure in the head

Colleen and Rodney:

Notice the qualities during breath work: notice the qualities in Savasana.

Know what to look for and when to let go, when to back up, when it’s OK to move forward.

Know what your anxiety feels like in your body.

You can’t work with something if you can’t touch it. You can’t let go of something unless you know what it is, know what it feels like.

“The monsters aren’t different, you just don’t let them take over anymore.”

Rodney and Colleen offered the story of their nephew's break up as context: to the nephew it seemed out of the blue: he was completely taken by surprise.

In your pranayama practice, notice the pressure build up: pay attention. Be mindful of the effects of your practice. Pay attention to your partner: see their reactions. Keep each other in check.

ALWAYS savasana afterwards. Savasana is the heart of pranayama.