Ben & Shae Cecka's family in Gilbert, AZ

I’ve been enjoying my hatha yoga class (here) so much. Most Tuesday nights I come home fully feeling the physical benefits (soreness, for example!) of my practice but last night’s class was a little different. We practiced all restorative poses which allow and incourage one to be, rather than to do. If someone were to walk down the street and peek through the window it would appear that we were all taking a group nap. Restoratives bring a quiteness to all parts of the being, which is why Paul, the instuctor, advised us to take a moment to prepare ourselves for the busy world outside and increase the reaction time we needed before driving away in our vehicles. Very interesting. We also were led through breathing exercises at the end of class while in Savasana, the corpse pose. Paul asked us, first, to take note of the breath without changing it. Then to add a steadiness to the breath before invisioning the lungs as having three seperate chambers. He instructed us to gently allow air into the first chamber, pause (not as to hold the breath, but as the natural pause between inhalation and exhalation.), let air into the second, pause, and the third before letting the air exit completely without force. We were advised to drop the breathing exercises and just stay in Savasana if problems with the nervous system or a warmth on the back of the neck occured. This warning interested me more than the breathing practice itself.

Just thought I’d share. (smile)