With relaxation breath, my favorite pranayama, deep relaxation is always just a few minutes of breathing away.  There are no complicated hand gestures, the counts are simple and no one can tell you are doing it except you.  I’ve done it on line at the bank and at the grocery store.  I’ve been at it while employees were complaining about what a terrible boss I am and while my girlfriend’s child was going into the second half hour of a tantrum.  Each time, I found my growing anxiety and tension soothed away.

My understanding is that my teacher Sri Yogi Dharma Mittra developed this practice so he could settle during his lunch hour without calling attention to himself. Since it is so versatile, effective and easy to do, it is the breathing exercise I teach the most and a practice I reach for regularly, when things get hectic and I feel my body tightening.

When you do this and have some positive experiences to share or any questions, I’d love to hear about it.

Photo credits: mrhayata, licensed by Creative Commons.

Ray has been a yoga practitioner since 1969.  An honors graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, his livelihood has been based on television production, art publishing and now yoga supply manufacturing and sales at YogaLifeStyle.com. Until 1997, Ray only shared his yoga practice with friends and relatives. Then he started teaching a class in his hometown of New Paltz,NY and soon after was offered the opportunity to participate in the inaugural teacher training program of well known master Sri Yogi Dharma Mittra. Ray recieved his certification and his Sanskrit name “Yogeshvara Om”, in September of 2000.
 In the lineage of Swami Gupta, our main credo is simply, “Be Nice.” According to Ray ” Through love and good intentions, discipline, hard work and faith, progress is assured.” More musings and yoga instruction like this can be found at Ray’s blog Everyday Yoga.