“Our breath is the first and last thing we do and without breath, there is no life.” BKS Iyengar

My first true awareness of the Power of Breath was during a visit with Dr. Vacant Lad in 2004 when he explained that breathing is an unconscious action for most people. He demonstrated this by having me count my inhalations and exhalations for one minute, then multiplied that number by 60 minutes by 24 hours, which, to my amazement, came to approximately 26,000 times per day.
From that day, I began to understand how finding this awareness is the basis of all life, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and its conscious practice has taught me to be more present in the moment and how delicate our existence is.
Breath carries Prana, the Sanskrit term for "vital energy" or "life force." This life-giving energy makes up everything in the universe, including our bodies, environment, and contents, as well as the foods and medicines we ingest. It affects all aspects of our lives.
Prana is breath, respiration, life, energy, and strength. “Ayama signifies stretching, expansion, regulation, prolongation, and control. Pranayama is the conscious or controlled use of breath, and its practice strengthens the respiratory system, increases lung capacity, properly circulates bodily fluids, and cleans the blood. It also removes toxins from the body, boosts the immune system, reduces stress, calms the mind, improves focus, and brings presence and balance to the body, mind, and spirit.
The practices I have found in Ayurveda and Yoga have transformed my life, providing groundedness, structure, stability, focus, and the presence I have sought for many years. I welcome the chance to introduce you to these modalities and look forward to meeting you in the new year.
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