FAQs - Yoga and Breathing
Frequently Asked Questions about Transformational Breathing and Yoga
Answers
- Is Breathing or
Breathwork safe?
In general, breathing is the safest activity in the world. Think
for a moment ... How safe is it NOT to breathe? There are advanced
breathing techniques which require instruction and care, but TB is safe
-- for all intents and purposes there are NO contraindications. During
facilitated sessions, you are guided by experienced Breathworkers who
make your comfort and safety their highest priority. You ARE required to
notify a practitioner of any medical issues which you may have or had --
just as you would your doctor or massage therapist. When you practice
our breathing techniques on your own, proceed at your own speed. You
will know intuitively, how much is too much. Our mantra: It is Safe to
Breathe!! Note: Don't attempt our techniques while driving or operating
machinery :-)
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How is Transformational Breathing different?
TB is a complete healing system. We use full circular breathing
techniques and combine it with a host of other tools which allow us to
move energy and initiate a shift to higher consciousness and healing.
Also, we work so much at the Spiritual level; this assures healing at
the root of the problem. And we place the greatest emphasis on the flow
of the breath. There are a number of breathwork modalities about, but
nothing compares to Transformational Breathing. But don't believe words,
believe your own experience and try it.
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- Why should I
learn to breathe better?
There are myriad benefits to developing a conscious breathing
practice. These benefits do not end at the Physical. Clearing Emotional
detritus, enhancing Mental capabilities, accessing a more Spiritual part
of yourself, cultivating greater awareness of the Breath and Self, and
opening up any or every aspect of your life are added bonuses. Can you
think of any reasons NOT to breathe more optimally?
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- What can I
expect from a Transformational Breathing session?
There is no set, predictable experience -- during or after. Since
you are wholly unique, your experience will also be unique. We do note
common patterns such as tingling in the hands, temporary dry mouth, the
appearance of buried emotion, feelings of joy or the "Love Buzz",
mystical adventures etc. The journey may be at times uncomfortable due
to the emotional content but it is paradoxically blissful at the same
time. In an altered state of consciousness, One's Higher Self guides the
healing, gives you only what you need and provides a feeling of absolute
safety. You will leave in a higher vibration, a higher consciousness. We
do, however, recommend that you leave expectations and judgments aside
and accept whatever part of you arises to heal. Every session is
perfect.
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- Spiritual
Healing? Do I need to have certain religious beliefs?
No, you need not have any specific beliefs, religious or
otherwise, to breathe with us -- Your beliefs are your business. We stay
away from preaching, we have NO Dogma. We ask only that you carry an
open mind to the Workshop because this work will almost certainly have
you challenging your belief system. In the final analysis, your beliefs
will be formed and re-formed by your life experiences and the insights
you glean from any spiritual practice.
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- How much
healing is possible with TB?
We have found from our experience that healing miracles occur
constantly. To list a set of "diseases" or "conditions" treatable or
curable by one's breathing practice is both limiting and unethical. We
make no healing claims: (1) Everyone's healing power is as unique as the
individual, (2) You are the Healer, not us. You are responsible for
doing the work and believing in your own healing potential, (3) There
are no limits to the Power of the Breath. Dr. Kravitz had healed herself
of cancer through the application of conscious breathing techniques.
Steve had removed a life-threatening food allergy and troublesome
digestive disorders. But the healing extends beyond the physical. We
have seen miracles occur emotionally, mentally and beyond. People
transform, dramatically and permanently, on many levels even after one
session -- and it only gets better with practice. So, how much healing
is possible? Throw away your measuring stick along with your
expectations and come find out.
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- What do I bring
to a session?
To prepare for your session with us, we suggest the following: 1)
Bring Blankets and Pillows for comfort, as many as you may need, 2) Wear
loose, comfortable clothing, 3) Eat only lightly before, 4) Bring an
open mind, and, 5) Experienced Breathers please bring a journal to
record after-session thoughts.
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Answers
- What does Yoga mean?
This is a deceptively complex question to answer. Let's take one
simple perspective. The Sanskrit term Yoga means "to yoke" or "to
harness". These verbs refer to the ancient realization of our multiple
dimensions -- the physical, the emotional, the mental and the spiritual;
and the ancient art and science of yoga to integrate or fully combine
these fragmented aspects of ourselves. Yoga is essentially one's
spiritual discipline, equivalent to Christian mysticism, Hebrew Kaballah
or Muslim Sufiism. Today we refer often to Hatha yoga or the classical
yoga of Patanjali. A more thorough examination of "what is yoga" can be
found in some
suggested reading.
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- What are
the benefits of doing yoga?
Without making medical claims we can state numerous benefits of
the many Hatha styles and derivatives. Realistically on the physical
level, there is a benefit of more energy, stress reduction, building of
strength, (especially "core conditioning"), flexibility and balance.
Also, clearer thinking, emotional transformation, and in a true yoga
study, spiritual advancement and transcendence of suffering. Yoga is a
comprehensive science for health and wellness and whatever you wish to
create in life, yoga practice can cultivate such change.
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- Why are
there so many styles of yoga?
The simple answer is because there are so many of us who practice
yoga. Everyone's path to the divine, everyone's road to healing,
everyone's journey through life is as unique as you are, so different
teachers over the ages and (certainly in this wild age of Marketing)
have seen fit to modify a standard yoga practice to fit themselves and
relate it to students. There are different yoga philosophies, some more
rigid, others more free, some orthodox, others more radical. Any
accounting of the evolution of yoga traditions or styles will be
exhaustive and complicated. And with all the current trademarked yoga
styles, it can become bewildering to sort through them or find which is
right for you. The yoga of the West is typically a modern streamlined
version of Hatha styles although we do see the Kundalini and Tantra
traditions and Tibetan contributions; all of these stem from the
classical yoga of Patanjali. After almost two thousand years evolution
of this yoga is natural and necessary. Essentially everyone who
practices yoga, or takes a class is recreating yoga -- Your Yoga. It is
my job to help that customized path develop.
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- Is Meditation part
of yoga?
Meditation classes have sprung up around us either as part of a
yoga practice or as a stand-alone discipline. Meditation is part of the
Ashtanga -- the eight-limbed approach formulated by Patanjali, which
includes among other limbs, the asanas (postures), and pranayama (the
breathing exercise or practice of "energy control"). Meditation is
called Dhyana in Sanskrit. I include a meditation period at the end of
each class as do most styles of yoga. Put simply meditation practice
(combined with a relaxed focus on breathing) facilitates a stillness of
mind allowing us to see "deeper". There are numerous forms of
meditation, both within yoga and various religious traditions; I tend to
employ guided meditations and visualizations but also encourage a silent
and solitary practice at home. Much has been written on meditation. See
the Reading List below for more.
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- Do you need to do
it every day?
Well, honestly, yes. If you become a desk-jockey 9 to 5 and a
couch potato most of the remaining hours of the day, then you cannot and
will not reach deeper meaning or achieve any significant benefit.
Approach a yoga practice as you would any other. If you get the energy
to work the treadmill on Saturday but remain dormant the rest of the
week then you are short-changing yourself. Now everyone, including me,
has lapses in practice for myriad reasons. When this happens, examine
your reasons and excuses and reaffirm your dedication to the practice.
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- Why is
Breathing such a big deal in your classes?
I'll say it again: BREATH is KING! It is the central element to
the physical aspects of my yoga practice. Ancient Yogis knew millennia
ago that the Breath is the primary vehicle for establishing that
connection or "yoking" of the self (lower case) with the Self. Whereas
most yoga classes are a physical display of asanas (postures) linked
into Vinyasa (flows) with merely a discrete almost obligatory inclusion
of breathing, I seek to turn that approach upside down and make
Breathing primary while any static postures and all dynamic movement
become subordinate. I teach students to pay more attention to how they
breath than to how they move. Why? Because when we are aware of the
breath during our physical practice, we are "present" -- in the moment.
If we toss out, even momentarily, a focus on breathing, we can have our
mind wander, leading to such things as injury at worse or an uninspiring
lackadaisical practice at best. So such a concentration upon the fully
integrated breathing techniques I teach (which are not all mainstream),
will carry over to an habitual change in consciousness of what I call
"Breath Awareness". When Breath is King such consciousness shifts
happens sooner and more positively.
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- Do I have to
change my religious beliefs or convert somehow?
NO! Yoga is an art and science as I stated. It is also a
philosophy and a spiritual path, and though it sprung from the ancient
Vedic Hindu culture, it is NOT a religion. As far as beliefs go, the
main spiritual foundation of yoga fits in nicely with existing
religions. It is a wonderful compliment to your current spiritual
practice or religious faith. In the world of Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains
various forms of yoga have been integrated into those paths for many
hundreds of years. For the Christian, Jew or Muslim, yoga can work for
you too if you do the work. Any religion, pagan practice or atheism can
adopt Yoga because it is a universal science. Using the tools does not
require changing your current belief structure at all, but do realize
that as you deepen practice you may end up challenging parts of your
understanding. This leads to personal growth and is a wonderful thing.
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- What
do you think about the way Yoga is taught in the West?
There's two sides to that question. In the West, I find that most
local yoga instruction is cookie-cutter. Teachers are churned out
without adequate training and their classes become diluted. Ignorance or
avoidance of the power of the Breath are common as is a lack of deeper
meaning and understanding. I try to teach Yoga in a more comprehensive
manner and with greater depth; respecting the classical traditions while
helping humbly in its evolution and at least partial restoration. The
other side of this question is that in the US and Europe, there are also
traditional Ashrams where Yoga is taught much as it was practiced in the
East before we in the West ever heard of the term. So Western yoga runs
the spectrum regarding adherence to tradition and purity of practice.
However, the greater part of yoga has been stripped and dulled to make
it more palatable to a Western baby-boomer instant-gratification
audience interested mainly in fitness.
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- What do you
think of Pilates?
There's certainly nothing wrong with it as it is a very good
program for conditioning. It does stop there and so is a limited
practice. I do find it ironic that when you take away the mechanical
apparatus developed by Joseph Pilates, you have exercises that are
basically modified yoga. But even so, if I prefer a Pilates element to a
related Yoga movement I will integrate (or re-integrate) it into my yoga
style and teach it accordingly. There's that word Inter-disciplinary
again.
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