When to practice Pranayama?

gerry456

"
@gerry456 said
"When do we work on regular hourly pranayama?

In Crowley's yoga writings he seems to infer that we ought to reach that pain-relief point of numbness ("remember Gallipoli?") ie complete success in asana must be reached before we attempt pranayama."

I wondered this myself, In Liber O it states that one should have a "fair mastery of Asana, Pranayama and Dharana" I originally took this to mean that if you need a "fair mastery" then complete success in one is not required to advance to the other. If that makes any sense. I moved on to Pranayama because I thought I was getting somewhat close to at least a comfortable 50 minutes of Asana but I now believe I may have been horridly mistaken. I was moving ever so slowly and not realizing it so, I have returned to concentrate fully on Asana but I still practice one full hour of Pranayama 20-10 (out/In) breathing so I don't loose the gains I have achieved in this exercise. Aside from the trippy flashes and strange sleeping patterns it produces, I have noticed some great health benefits from doing Pranayama and would hate to loose it. At any rate, I hope this helps you in some way.

93 93/93"

How long have you been doing that Pranayama?

Thanks.

I am similar to you in that I usually do 50 minutes asana a night and there is discomfort the last 12 minutes but I can feel some numbing at that stage.

Frater_Heremus

I have been practicing it almost everyday for about 2 1/2 months.

gerry456

@Frater_Heremus said

"I have been practicing it almost everyday for about 2 1/2 months."

Yoga for Yahoos

First Lecture: First Principles

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

It is my will to explain the subject of Yoga in clear language, without resort to jargon or the enunciation of fantastic hypotheses, in order that this great science may be thoroughly understood as of universal importance.

For, like all great things, it is simple; but, like all great things, it is masked by confused thinking; and, only too often, brought into contempt by the machinations of knavery.

There is more nonsense talked and written about Yoga than about anything else in the world. Most of this nonsense, which is fostered by charlatans, is based upon the idea that there is something mysterious and Oriental about it. There isn't. *

I've heard that pranayama done wrong can really do your spine in.

I guess common sense must prevail, if you feel overstrained...... then stop.

Frater_Heremus

@gerry456 said

"
@Frater_Heremus said
"I have been practicing it almost everyday for about 2 1/2 months."

Yoga for Yahoos

First Lecture: First Principles

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

It is my will to explain the subject of Yoga in clear language, without resort to jargon or the enunciation of fantastic hypotheses, in order that this great science may be thoroughly understood as of universal importance.

For, like all great things, it is simple; but, like all great things, it is masked by confused thinking; and, only too often, brought into contempt by the machinations of knavery.

There is more nonsense talked and written about Yoga than about anything else in the world. Most of this nonsense, which is fostered by charlatans, is based upon the idea that there is something mysterious and Oriental about it. There isn't. *

I've heard that pranayama done wrong can really do your spine in.

I guess common sense must prevail, if you feel overstrained...... then stop."

I believe Hatha Yoga has helped me immensely with Pranayama, I did about a month in a half of Hatha yoga before starting any of the exercises in Liber E. Do a Youtube search for basic yoga stretches and Sun Salutations, this is supposed to help with the flow of Prana. I do about 30 minutes a day and one full hour of Hot Yoga a week. That and I was told Never to Strain, if you feel you need to catch your breath or stop, then by all means do it. Beyond that I was left to wing it from there. I am now doing one hour a day of 20/10 Pranayama with relative ease. At any rate, hope this helps.

ThelemicMage

In my experience, practicing pranayama helps facilitate proper asana. (Allows one to stop paying attention to one's body, and to hold the position relaxed but firm, as the lungs do, in constant undulation.)

gerry456

I hear that Pranayama, instigated before it's time, can damage the spine.

Jim Eshelman

@gerry456 said

"I hear that Pranayama, instigated before it's time can damage the spine."

No, not really.

Now, if you get significant results - especially Kundalini-surging results - and aren't physically well-balanced, then this can cause various problems, of which emotional/psychological ones are almost always going to show first.

Such results don't usually occur quickly.

gerry456

@Jim Eshelman said

"[No, not really.

Now, if you get significant results - especially Kundalini-surging results - and aren't physically well-balanced, then this can cause various problems, of which emotional/psychological ones are almost always going to show first.

Such results don't usually occur quickly."

When you say not physically balanced do you mean unknowingly leaning to one side during asana or a general misalignment in daily life?

Frater_Heremus

@Jim Eshelman said

"
@gerry456 said
"I hear that Pranayama, instigated before it's time can damage the spine."

No, not really.

Now, if you get significant results - especially Kundalini-surging results - and aren't physically well-balanced, then this can cause various problems, of which emotional/psychological ones are almost always going to show first.

Such results don't usually occur quickly."

I am not sure if this would constitute as "quickly" or not but after about 2 1/2 months of straight practice I started getting Kundalini surges/flashes. I read that both the LBRP and the Middle Pillar helps in reducing the chances of undesirable results from Pranayama??

ThelemicMage

Psychic
Psychically

Not
Physic
Physically

Nor
Psycho
Psychologically

gerry456

@Frater_Heremus said

"
@Jim Eshelman said
"
@gerry456 said
"I hear that Pranayama, instigated before it's time can damage the spine."

No, not really.

Now, if you get significant results - especially Kundalini-surging results - and aren't physically well-balanced, then this can cause various problems, of which emotional/psychological ones are almost always going to show first.

Such results don't usually occur quickly."

I am not sure if this would constitute as "quickly" or not but after about 2 1/2 months of straight practice I started getting Kundalini surges/flashes. I read that both the LBRP and the Middle Pillar helps in reducing the chances of undesirable results from Pranayama??"

I think anything that controls strong emotions whether it be counselling or any trick, will work. I take it pranayama eventually stirs up strong emotions?