Pranayama at the beginning of the class

My teacher always likes to start the class with a good solid dose of pranayama and normally, once I am back in the swing of it, this feels good. It has been some months since I practiced pranayama with any regularity and I forget that it takes a while to quiet down my noisy little mind and listen to my breath as she instructs.

Pranayama is the controlled inhalation and exhalation of the breath. It is said to quiet the mind and calm and soothe the nervous system and this it does. I can only speak for myself on this one but I would say there are millions of people that would agree with me when I say that this pranayama takes some practice. It is just not possible to sit down and bang out a good set of breathing exercises without some understanding and definitely some practice.

Firstly, it is tricky to sit cross legged for any amount of time at the start of anyones yoga path. Unless they are blessed with incredibly open hips. Ladies and gentlemen, I am not one of those people. It has taken me quite a few years to sit and sweat it out but now I am beginning to enjoy this sitting process. Just sit there and enjoy it doesn’t make as much sense to me as it used to.

So we begin this process. As I said it has been some months since I last practiced it regularly and it doesn’t come back straight away. The sitting is fine for me as I have been practicing regular asana practice (physical postures) so my physicality is ok with the sitting. It is the noisy mind that gives me some trouble.

Well trouble is not quite the right word. Humour is what comes up for me. Once we sit down for some pranayama at length it would appear that my true vocation is actually a stand up comic. Yes I tell you. The funnies just keep coming and it is very difficult for me to keep my mind on the breath.

My sense of humour is a wonderful friend and it had taken leave of me whilst I felt weighed down by the daily tasks of life and having it back is great. Having any good friend back after a long absence is wonderful but now is not the time to be hearing their jokes. But they keep coming and coming and really I can be quite funny. Where do I get these and why aren’t I up on stage now? I wonder this as I attempt to inhale and exhale. Shuss you funny woman I am trying to tell myself but really I am feeling very amused with myself which is just not helping.

So trying to ignore my own mind and listen to my breath I go again. In and out, up and down,whatever it takes to keep the comedian out of the yoga shala this morning. Im good I tell you, should write these down for a later date but once we finish the breathing they are gone to me.

Pranayama is a wonderful tool for awakening the spirit and after around 5 minutes I start to get a hold of myself and my breath becomes slightly noisier than the jokes. Only slightly though. I am really funny when I want to be.

I begin to calm down on the inner comic in me gives way to the inner yogi and we begin to shine. Mind on the breath, heart and spine lifting and we are off. Floating feeling, check, heart open, check, inhalation and exhalation of the breath, check. I am back on the bike and it is a smooth ride. Hard to get the pedals going but once we are off the journey is delightful.

Hopefully tomorrow morning the joker inside of me will give it a rest and let the yogi enjoy her breath and start the class with a little more grounding. My inner smile is still here now and that is great and lovely.

I love yoga and all it entails for me. Jokes and breath and all.