mudras for the yamas and niyamas

Sweet breath. It is the bridge between body and the mind (emotions). Let go. Let go of your holding, let go of your worries, let go of fear, let go of constriction. Make space to feel, to BE. Breathe sweetly dear ones. * * * Before Ujjayi, before Durga or Yogic three part breath, before any pranayama you must befriend your breath. In my experience this is where many yoga classes fall short. In the yoga sutras pranayama comes after asana. Yoga has changed dramatically in 3000years and so has our lifestyles. We shouldn’t confuse pranayama with establishing comfortable breath. The modern day focus on asana (postures) can only remain yoga if there is time given to releasing tension by establishing a comfortable breath. The need to release tension is very obvious in bodies that are new to yoga or less flexible. It’s not as easy to see in body that have been practicing asana or are more flexible. Constriction is less obvious but often still there. * * Letting go breath ... Inhale through the nose, exhaling through the lips as if the breath was a warm and gentle breeze.