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anthony574
USA
549 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 20 2008 : 6:10:36 PM
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Hey guys
I wanted to add spinal bastrika to my practice. I have done "abdominal breathing" in my Bikram class and enjoy it. I tried Bastrika today, but found it difficult.
For one, I found it hard to continue the rapid exhalations in a seated position. In class we do it Japanese sitting style and I think this opens up the body a bit more.
For two, I do not understand the visualization. As I understand it, I am to be exhalaling using my abdominal muscles rapidly and not focusng on the exhale as it will occur automatically. I thought I understood that I am to visualize the third eye on the in-breath and the root on the out-breath...but if I were to do this I would be making three passes in one second! Is this how it is performed or am I missing something? Maybe it is not done as fast as in breath of fire? |
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Christi
United Kingdom
4514 Posts |
Posted - Nov 21 2008 : 02:39:32 AM
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Hi Anthony,
You can sit in any asana you want to do any of the AYP practices, although over time you may find that sitting cross legged (or half lotus) is the easiest and most benefitial.
Spinal bastrika is practiced by breathing in and out deeply and rapidly, whilst moving your attention between the perineum and the third eye following the spinal nerve. So it is just like spinal breathing pranayama only much faster. The first time I tried it I just thought "this is imposible" 
You can make it easier by simply jumping with your attention from the root to the third eye, ending at the third eye at the end of an inhalation and ending at the root at the end of exhalation.
You can make it even easier by leaving out the spinal nerve and the chakras altogether, in which case it becomes bastrika, instead of spinal bastrika.
I found it one of the klunkiest practices at first, but also one of the most powerful in terms of purification. It was the first practice I had to seriously self pace on. It is well worth mastering.
Christi |
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cosmic_troll
USA
229 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2008 : 9:01:56 PM
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Hi Anthony,
Are you doing Spinal Bastrika immediately after Spinal Breathing Pranayama? If so, I find it helpful to build up speed gradually between the two practices. Rather than go from normal breathing (in SBP) to rapid breathing (in Spinal Bastrika), try increasing your breathing speed over the course of 30 seconds or so. This can help keep the visualization synchronized with the breath.
I agree with Christi that it's clunky, but it will become easier over time.
Best wishes!
cosmic |
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anthony574
USA
549 Posts |
Posted - Nov 24 2008 : 6:31:09 PM
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| I will try that. Sounds like a good idea |
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Spinal Bastrika question
