Breathing exercise to calm the nervous system A simple breathing exercise to calm the nervous system. Breathe in for 4 counts, out for 7. The longer exhale is what does the work. During inhalation, your heart rate speeds up slightly; during exhalation, the vagus nerve signals your body to slow down and relax. Breathing techniques
Pranayama Breathing Practice This is a breathing practice we offer to guests at our retreat, drawing on both ancient yogic tradition and contemporary research. Background Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, written approximately 2,500 years ago, describe a method of Pranayama in which the practitioner simply maintains attention on the breath — observing where it is felt in
At our retreat center in Kampot, Cambodia, we offer an optional daily meditation practice at 10.00 am. This practice is unguided, but the teachers will provide support and advice as needed. This post gives the instructions for our guests or anybody else wanting a clear and simple guide to this life-changing (and world-changing) practice. Meditation
Unique to The Yoga Palace is our Techno Pranayama meditation. I created this several years ago because I enjoy electronic music and the hypnotic, euphoric states it can create. Combining this with breathwork made sense — music drives focus and rhythm in the same way it does when you’re running or lifting; the beat gives
When we meditate, all we are doing is noticing when the mind has wandered and returning it to the object of meditation. Say for example, we are meditating on the breath. We simply sit, with our awareness on the breath. As soon as we notice that our mind has gone somewhere other than on the
Flicking from one thing to another, in search of cheap thrills but finding nothing satisfactory. Occasionally stumbling on something that fires off your emotions: a pinch of lust, a dash of anger, a touch of envy, a glimmer of hope… but the feeling evaporates as soon as it arrives and you are on to something
I once had a job writing articles about meditation, yoga, and other spiritual practices. Back then, it was easy for me to write about meditation, even though I didn’t meditate much myself. I’d read books about meditation, listen to talks, and write articles based on what other people said about meditation. What I would write
Based on the “Trataka” practice from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika This meditation is named after the Sanskrit word trataka (त्राटक) which means “to gaze steadily” or “to look”. WHY PRACTICE CANDLE-GAZING AND VISUALIZATION? It is a powerful meditation for anybody looking to improve their ability to focus the mind. This meditation is also believed to
At our Yoga retreat in Kampot, Cambodia, we practice a variety of different meditations. This one is very useful for anybody experiencing thoughts of self-criticism, and is a perfect preparation for loving-kindness meditations. The following meditation is adapted from the practice found in “The Path Of Nibbana” by David C. Johnson which is itself based
