Yoga means unity, reunion. Becoming one with your true nature, your pure being, your higher consciousness. According to the yoga of Patanjali, the yoga you practice on your yoga mat is just one of the 8 components of yoga. You can also practice yoga in your car.
You do this by practicing pranayama. Pranayama is often translated as breathing, but this doesn’t fully capture the concept. Your breath is an aspect of pranayama, the most tangible aspect for us.
Breathe in long and deep through your nose into your lower abdomen.
Feel how your belly slowly expands like a balloon until it’s full. Then, breathe out slowly through your nose until no breath remains in your body and your belly is completely flat, with your navel close to your spine. Repeat this at least five times, but as long as you like. Be aware of the path the air travels and experience the prana through your entire body. Feel the cold air entering through your nasal hairs and the warm air leaving. Notice how the air flows through your heart area. Feel the sensations in your body and observe how your entire body, your whole system, comes to rest.
This simple yoga exercise reduces stress, anger, and restlessness in your body.
It promotes creativity, alertness, intuition, and overall well-being.
How wonderful it is that you can combine something as ordinary and simple as a car ride with yoga.
This was the first thing I learned when I started my journey of self-development. It brought me so much right away. I still practice it daily, especially in the car. My children loved it. I no longer lost my temper when I found a messy kitchen at home. Before I went inside, I always did a few on the driveway. The “anger management” course, which my husband kept joking about, was no longer necessary. All thanks to this simple yoga exercise, which you can apply anywhere, like just before you walk into a difficult meeting.
Prana is our life energy.
Everything in us and in nature can be traced back to prana, consciousness, and ether. If there is no prana left in your body, you are dead. Your breath is a tangible form of prana, but a thought is also prana. Prana is in everything, so it’s important to be aware of this.
If you have low energy:
Close your left nostril and breathe in and out through your right nostril. Your right nostril is connected to the sun, the masculine side. This will make you more active and give you energy. Your left nostril is connected to the moon, the feminine side. If you sleep poorly, try lying on your right side. You can also close your right nostril and breathe in and out through your left nostril.
There’s much more to say about this.
For now, here’s the last tip:
If you’re looking for more balance in your work or personal life, breathe for five minutes daily: in through the left, out through the right, in through the right, out through the left, and so on. You can also choose to hold your breath briefly in between. Keep a steady rhythm. After forty days, you’ll notice that everything in your life becomes more balanced.
If you master your prana, you master your world.
As you’ll quickly experience, this has a very positive effect on your mind, mood, and performance. Our head, heart, body, and mind work together continuously, and by influencing one, you can influence the others.
Want to learn more? I invite you to join one of my workshops or training sessions. If it sounds interesting for your team, I would be happy to be invited to provide a tailored training.
