I practice and teach Pranayama Yoga in Birmingham, UK. As an instructor and Complementary Therapist, I have become aware of the therapeutic powers of yoga.

There are over 200 various forms of yoga and people tend to be drawn to whichever form suits their need at certain times in their life. For example, ashtanga yoga is very physical, very athletic. Raj yoga is purely spiritual. Hatha yoga combines the whole.

Pranayama yoga, however, is in its very essence very gentle. It teaches the art of relaxation. It is non religious, non political, and non competitive. This way of life gives the perfect attitude of mind to harmonise with reality. And above all, the practical peace of mind sought by one and all.

What is Pranayama Yoga?

As already stated, pranayama yoga in its very essence is gentle, it is the perhaps the gentleness that attracts most people towards this form of yoga. It specifically teaches the art of relaxation, and relaxation like any other subject can be learned.

Tension, we are told, usually revolves around certain areas of our life, usually around our families, friends, relations, and our work, and each source has a different demand to be dealt and coped with. It is in this "giving" to each source that tension creeps in and decides to stay.

So we learn in this form of yoga to first be aware of these various sources of tension in our own life, and then very gently how to let go. We are taught a very specific mind relaxation exercise known as "the slip-second" how to let go, how to detach from these various aspects of demands in our own life. All tension begins in the mind, and practicing this simple yet profound exercise three times a day will bring clarity of thought and give the mind the capacity to meet all demands made upon it for up to 8 hours without any fatigue.

We then learn specific breathing exercises, because the mind body and breath are so interconnected that each influences the other on a continual basis.

The History of Pranayama Yoga

It has its roots in Banares, India, 6000 years ago, and was developed by a man named Yoga Krishna.

Krishna at that time witnessed all other sidhus, mystics, yoga teachers going off into mountains, solitude to practice their yoga and meditation. But he Krishna found himself too caught up in reality, with a young wife and children who needed and depended on him, to follow such a path. Consequently, he developed the art of detachment, the art of relaxation without leaving reality, one of the aspects of this form of yoga that makes it so unique.

Pranayama yoga has been passed on from person to person unchanged for 6000 years. One such person was a lady named Sunita Cabral. Born in 1932 was became a graduate of Bombay University, and was a teacher of classical Indian Dancing an L.R.A.M and a successful concert pianist in her own country before taking up yoga.

She was by religion a Brahmin, which meant she had an arranged marriage made for her, unfortunately she didn't like the man she was going to marry, and ran away. She went into a convent to become a nun as she felt that this was the only option open to her. She stayed there for five years, becoming a shadow of her former self, and grew more and more unhappy, until one day the convent gates were open and she fled.

Sunita went back home, but again, she was shunned by her family, friends, and grew more lonely, more isolated.

One of the ways she used to escape all of the pain and isolation she felt, was to walk along the beach by where she lived, and it was there she met her teacher Narainswami, who took her under his wing and began to teach her pranayama yoga in its entirety.

Consisting of over 300 various postures, Sunita became an expert practicing up to 16 hours a day. She grew stronger and healthier and married a man of her choice and came to this country in 1959 and it was there she saw the need for yoga and relaxation.

She began to condense the yoga down to fit into the western way of life, and the yoga I practice and teach is the legacy of Sunita Cabral. It is taught throughout the UK within Adult education departments, Private classes and Universities, to name but a few.

Sunita wrote a book, which you can order on line www.pranayama-yoga.co.uk. This is the official web site for Pranayama yoga, where you can make enquires regarding classes in your area, tapes, books and any other enquires you may have.

I personally have classes throughout Birmingham and can provide home-visits if necessary - please contact me for more details.

What involved in Pranayama Yoga?

Whenever you're anxious, your breath will change; whenever you're angry, your breath will change; even in depression the breath changes, in fact every emotion you have will affect the breath in some way. Knowing this gives us a great tool to use to break the pattern of all those states of mind mentioned above, through specific breathing exercises that will help to soothe and restore the mind towards calmness. We are taught specific breathing exercises to help alleviate anxiety, panic, depression, anger, asthma, palpations, hysteria, and so much more.

After the breathing exercises we learn a unique sequence of physical exercises that keep the body supple and improve the circulation. All of the physiotherapy exercises you will have come across have been taken from yoga.
There are all together over 300 hundred various exercises involved in pranayama yoga.

Sunita condensed the yoga to fit into the western way of life so as to not take to much time, but also to not loose any of the benefits. That is, to give the required frame of mind to live in the rat race, free from tension.

The physical exercises, breathing exercises, and most importantly the slip-second exercise are very much part of that whole process, towards practical peace of mind

We then finish with deep relaxation exercise, again when perfected this will give the body the energy it needs to meet all physical demands made upon it for up to 8 hours without any fatigue.

Is Pranayama Yoga for you?

So in this form of yoga, you have a complete system that induces calmness through mind, breath and body. You have a philosophy that will not let you down, one that teaches acceptance of life, on life's terms not your own. By living in the moment, doing one thing at a time, and periodically detaching from reality in order to meet all demands made upon you. Your attitude will change, and it is your attitude of mind that makes a difference from tension into relaxation.

IT IS A WONDERFUL FORM OF YOGA, one that is within reach of anyone, any age, any physical condition. It can act as a foundation for living. I haven't got to sell it; if it's right for you, you'll know it.

But I would genuinely say it has been my saving grace, and still in many ways continues to be so, so why shouldn't it be the same for you?

Please email me if you would like to know more, or please log onto the official web site listed above and begin there.