Dru Yoga Cape Town

Of course, F has to be the F of the Functional Breathing alphabet.
What is the difference between Functional Breathing and other types of Breathwork.?
Well this might get me into hot water (or hot air!) as there are different interpretations of this, so this is my understanding from the Buteyko Clinic that I trained with.
1,) Functional Breathing is when we learn to change our unconscious breathing habits so that our regular 24/7 breathing is nasal, soft, quiet and diaphragmatic. This has many benefits to the health of the body, including the nervous system.

2,) Breathwork - this is very popular at the moment. In general it focuses on learning breathing exercises that will calm or invigorate your nervous sysem, or keep it at an equilibrium. It may improve functional breathing, but that is not the primary focus.

3.) Pranayama - if you go to a yoga class you may be taught breathing exercises like alternate nostril breathing or Ujjayi (Ocean breath). Here I may get into hot water again, but I follow the school of thought that Pranayama is training your body to breathe less through retention of the breath, (Kumbhaka). Which means alternative nostril breathing and Ujjayi are not pranayama, but Kriyas. Interpretations of the sutras (Ancient texts) differ and someone else may tell you something different.

What they all do have in common is breathing through the nose. If you start there you'll go a long way!

It's been a while since I posted a letter for the A to Z of Functional Breathing and we have now reached the letter E.
So what has Exercise got to do with functional breathing, other than puffing and gasping when you run up the stairs?!
A lot of people understand that nasal breathing is good for you, but don't think it's necessary when you exercise. Here's why nasal breathing is good during physical exercise
• reduces exercise induced astham
• improves respiratory muscle strength, in particular the diaphragm
•filters the incoming air, as well as regulates temperature
•Regulates exercise intensity- in other words helps us from over doing it. As your breathing improves so will your exercise capacity.
•Breathing through the nose during physical exercise is essential to help improve your tolerance to CO2, which is the driving force behind your breath. (See previous Control Pause, under C).)

Start off slowly with nasal breathing during exercise. Stop when you are out of breath and continue to breath through the nose until tour breathing is regulated. You may want to start with just walking. As you get more accustomed to nasal breathing you will be able to increase your exertion.

Seaside and sunshine

We've been doing quite a lot of leg work in class of late. So far no one has legged it out of there!
Strong legs are very important for longevity, as soon as the legs are weak it reduces mobility and the rest of the body loses tone. Yoga is fantastic for strengthening the legs..Leg work also grounds us, connecting us to the earth.
If you're feeling anxious you try bring your attention to your feet. Sometimes just that connection with the ground calms us and brings us back down to earth.

Just saying.....

In Dru Yoga we have very much the same postures (asanas) as Hatha Yoga. Some of them we approach a bit differently like the tree, (Vrksasana) one of many yogi's favourite postures. In Dru we do a flowing tree. It really feels like you are opening up your branches and flowing a little in the wind, whilst your feet remain rooted the ground. A great posture for going into winter, keeping you grounded whilst the weather is so changeable. (Thunder shouting at me at this moment!)

http://druyogacapetown.co.za/dru-yoga-classes-2/

If you're new to my page this is me! I teach Dru Yoga which was started by 4 students from Bangor University 48 years ago. It's quite crazy to think a group of university students could start a movement which now has teachers and followers all over the world. Dru has also grown to encompasses Mediation and Ayurveda.

I recency visited the Dru Centre in Snowdonia, Wales, where I was met with such warmth and generosity. (A post about my trip will be coming soon!)

Dru is generally gentler and more therapeutic than other more intense forms of yoga. It tends to prioritise flow and energetic experience over technical precision. You will immediately sense the influence of Thai Chi and Qi Gong, but there is also science backed research into its benefits.

Contact me if you'e keen to give it a try. You don't need experience or super flexibility, just an open mind and heart!