Pranayama - Central Flow

Pranayama cultivates life energy through exercises of breath and attention. There are many forms of pranayama. In this practice, we are going to work with a simple flow through the Central Channel. The purpose of this practice is to connect with the flow of life energy through the core of your being as a portal to deeper recognition of who you are and the peace and joy of this realization. This is a powerful way to connect with and activate vital energy flow, integrate your nervous system, and realize the deeper essence of who you are AS the Light of Awareness itself.

Transcript

Pranayama, Central flow. Pranayama means the cultivation of life energy through exercises of breath and attention. There are many forms of pranayama. In this practice we're going to work with a simple flow through the central channel. The purpose of this practice is to connect with the flow of vital energy through the core of your being as a portal to deeper recognition of who you are and the peace and joy of this realization. The central channel is a channel of light from the perineum and base of your spine up through the core of your body including your spine through the center of your brain to the top of your head. This channel relates to the vagus nerve network that connects your brain stem with your heart and digestive system and facilitates relaxation and integration of body, Heart, And mind. In this pranayama we will first activate awareness of energy at the base of this channel and then breathe this energy up and down through the central channel from the perineum to the center of the brain. We'll then relax in the upper brain centers and rest as the boundless light of awareness before feeling the energy flowing back down through the central channel and out through every cell. This is a powerful way to connect with and activate vital energy flow, Integrate your nervous system, And realize the deeper essence of who you are as the light of awareness itself, That which illumines and enlivens wherever attention flows. Let's begin by sitting comfortably upright with your hands resting cupped in your lap in an open receptive posture. Lightly close your eyes. Consider your intention for this practice. Why is this important to you? Consider that this practice is not only for you, That the effect of this practice extends to your loved ones, To everyone you interact with, And even more widely and invisibly to all beings and the whole planet and throughout our collective consciousness. You are part of the one life we all share and your practice, Your state of consciousness, Matters to the whole. So consider dedicating this practice to the awakening of all beings to our essential nature, That we might all tune in to a deeper awareness of who we are, To our place in the whole, And our connection with all that is. Now, We'll set up our practice with posture points because grounded, Relaxed, Open, Upright, And aligned posture facilitates energy flow and awareness. Focus down into feeling the connection of your lower legs and feet with the ground. Soften and relax your feet, Toes, And lower legs as if they are melting deep down into the earth. Open to the feeling of the earth and feel the grounded presence and solid support of the earth in your feet, Toes, And lower legs. Allow this feeling of grounded presence to flow up through your feet, Up through your toes, Toes, And lower legs. Allow this feeling of grounded presence to flow up through your feet, Toes, And lower legs. Allow this feeling of grounded presence to flow up through your feet, Toes, And lower legs. Allow this feeling of grounded presence to flow up through your feet, Toes, And lower legs. Allow this feeling of grounded presence to flow up through your feet, Toes, And lower legs. Allow this feeling of grounded presence to flow up through your feet, Toes, Arms, Torso, Neck, And your head. Imagine and feel as if a string is attached to the top of your head, Drawing your spine gently upright like a string of luminous pearls. Feel your spine gently stretched from your perineum and tailbone up through the top of your head. Feel your whole spine at once like a channel of light. Feel the tingling aliveness at the top of your head. Open to the sky above as you sit nicely upright. Tuck your chin just slightly, Gently lengthening the back of your neck. Lightly close your lips and breathe in and out through your nose. Rest your tongue up on the roof of your mouth with the tip of your tongue touching the gum line behind your upper front teeth. Soften and relax your tongue here. Softening your tongue sends a relaxation signal through your vagus nerve network from your brain stem in the center of your brain, Down through your heart, Your abdomen, And throughout your whole body. As you feel this relaxation, Smile, A subtle smile of calm happiness, Of appreciation and gratitude for this time to consciously relax. Tune in to the subtle energy flow within and connect with the deeper essence of who you are as awareness itself. Allow this feeling of smiling to relax your face. Smile through your eyes and release any tension from your eyebrows and your forehead. Allow this feeling of smiling to wash down from the top of your head, Down through the center of your brain, Down through your neck. Allow this feeling of smiling to wash down from the top of your head, Down through the center of your brain, Down through your head. Allow this feeling of smiling to wash down from the top of your head, Down through the center of your brain, Down through your neck. Allow this feeling of smiling to wash down from the top of your head, Down through the center of your brain, Down through your neck. Allow this feeling of smiling to wash down from the top of your head, Down through the center of your brain, Down through your neck. Allow this feeling of smiling to wash down from the top of your head, Allow this feeling of smiling to wash down from the top of your head, Down through your neck. Allow this feeling of smiling to wash down from the top of your head, Allow this feeling of smiling to wash down from the top of your head, Down through your neck. Allow this feeling of smiling to wash down from the top of your head, Down through your neck. Allow this feeling of smiling to wash down from the top of your head, Down through your neck. I'll describe the central channel breathing first, Then we'll practice it together. To breathe through this channel, We're going to gently squeeze the perineum and draw a strong, Deep in-breath. While you're breathing in, Feel the cool current of your in-breath rising from your perineum up through the core of your body and spine, Into the center of your brain. To help you feel this flow, Tuck your chin just slightly and feel and hear the strong, Cool current of your in-breath along the back of your throat and deep in your upper sinus passages. As you breathe out, Feel as if the warm current of your out-breath flows effortlessly down from the center of your brain down through the central channel, Returning to the perineum, Which relaxes as you breathe out. Let's begin this breathing together. Now, Gently squeeze your perineum, Tuck your chin, And draw a strong, Cool current of in-breath from your perineum up through your spine and back of your throat into the center of your brain. Pause and feel the energy here in the center of your brain. Then exhale and feel the warm current of your out-breath flowing effortlessly down through the central channel and back to the perineum. Again, Gently squeeze your perineum, Tuck your chin, And draw a strong, Cool current of in-breath from your perineum up through your spine and back of your throat into the center of your brain. Pause and feel the energy here in the center of your brain. Exhale and feel the warm current of your out-breath flowing effortlessly down through the central channel and back to the perineum. As you breathe in, Feel the activation of the upward cool current flowing like an electrical charge up along your spine into the center of your brain. Pause and feel the energy here. And as you breathe out, Feel the relaxation of the downward warm current flowing effortlessly down to the perineum. Continue breathing in this way at whatever pace feels good to you. Now, Take one more in-breath feeling the current flowing upward into the center of your brain and breathe out through the center of your brain to focus attention here. Breathe in and out through the center of your brain to focus attention and build energy here. Now, Let go of breathing and rest attention in the center, Forward, And upper areas of your brain. Feel the energized aliveness of your upper brain centers. Relax and feel the light, Open, Spacious quality of awareness itself. Let go of any effort and rest as the light, Open, Spaciousness of awareness. Let go of any sense of location and notice how awareness itself has no boundary. Feel how awareness is limitless, Clear, And spacious. Notice how awareness has no beginning and no end. Awareness is timeless. Awareness is beyond time. That within which space and time arise. Rest as the open, Clear light of awareness itself. You are awareness itself. Let go of any effort Clear, Boundless, Timeless, Dimensionless. Rest as all-embracing awareness. Rest as all-embracing awareness. Now feel the space of your body within this boundless openness of awareness as an expression of awareness, A place where awareness itself has an infinite variety of experiences from specific points of view. Feel the tingling aliveness at the top of your head and feel the light of awareness pouring in through the top of your head, Down through the center of your brain, Down through your heart, Your abdomen, And out through your whole body Feel your body as a whole from the inside. Feel the entire space inside and including your skin infused with the light of awareness which illumines and enlivens everywhere it shines. Feel the light of awareness as it illuminates and illuminates your entire being. Feel the light of awareness as it illuminates and illuminates your entire being. Feel the light of awareness as it illuminates your entire being. Feel the light of awareness as it illuminates your entire being. Feel the light of awareness as it illuminates Feel the light of awareness as it illuminates Feel the light of awareness as it illuminates your entire being. Feel the light of awareness your entire being. Feel the light of awareness as it illuminates your entire being.