The Paradox of Pranayama
Hatha yoga could be defined as 'the yoga of the will,'" Manouso Manos tells us near the beginning of our afternoon pranayama session. "In asana practice, as you saw this morning, you exercise your willpower strongly."
Pranayama is also usually considered part of hatha yoga, says Manouso, but the use of will in pranayama practice is almost the opposite of the way we exercise it in asana. In pranayama, we learn how to back away from the forceful application of our will and instead surrender to our internal experience.
"Pranayama is not so much a doing as an observing," Manouso continues. "It's much more like receiving than like giving."
In keeping with this insight, Manouso's instructions in this pranayama lesson focus much more on the architecture of our reclining and sitting pranayama postures than on the mechanics of the breathing. In fact, Manouso says, "The act of sitting properly will teach you the breath." The instructions he does give us about the method of breathing consist almost entirely of demonstrating how to remain within the easy, full movement of the breath, rather than overdoing either the inhalation or the exhalation.
"When you do pranayama properly," Manouso insists, "you should feel that all the nerves of your body are being soothed."
Photo credit: Todd Semo