Written by Stacey Clarke, Maitri Yoga

Known by many different name variations, including: Qui Gung, Chi Kung and Qigong, it is the Oriental art of working with and restoring your life energy, through movement, proper breathing and concentration.  Phonetically, it is most often pronounced ‘chee’  ‘gong’.  ‘Qui’ means several things in Chinese, ‘air’ being the most common, but in this case it’s ‘the life energy inside a person’.  ‘Gung’ means ‘a method of exercise that takes a long time to do well’ (Lam & Kaye, 2006).

Qui Gung is all about harnessing your life force to “free yourself from your negative emotions and incessant chatter of your monkey mind” (Frantzis, 2008).  Once the mind has calmed and relaxed, with the focus concentrated on the exercise, you’re said to be in a ‘Qui Gung state’ or ‘ru jing’, from which your health and wellbeing can then be optimized (Brown & knoferl, 2001).

Written by Brook McCarthy

Hindu mysticism believes that the body has a system of energy channels called nadis, through which prana, or life force, flows. The many practices of yoga help cultivate prana to flow freely throughout all nadis – one of the most effective is nadi sodhana pranayama.

Written by Kara Goodsell

'Engage Mula Bandha’ is an oft-quoted instruction in class. But just how do you do that? Byron Yoga Centre teacher trainer Kara Goodsell explores some simple techniques and tips for isolating and engaging your three main bandhas to help take your asana and meditation practice to the next level.

Written by Kara Goodsell

The concept of bandhas is one of the more subtle and esoteric aspects of yoga and if you have ever been left feeling somewhat perplexed as to the correct bandha action in your practice, you are not alone.

Written by Brook McCarthy

Sitting with eyes closed and mind focused seems a simple thing. Yet for anyone who’s ever sat and tried to meditate while battling with thoughts that jump from judgements to menial distractions, it can be excruciating. Simplifying your approach may be the key to get beyond these, explains Byron Yoga centre meditation teacher Stephan Kahlert.

Written by Brook McCarthy

Yoga teachers enthuse that, ‘yoga is nothing without a home practice’. Home practice gives self-insight into how you respond to difficulty and ease, heightens self-awareness of the body, and cultivates your ability to care for yourself. But starting – or resuming – your home practice can be intimidating, hard to manage, or just plain dull. Discover these tips for starting and maintaining your home practice.

Written by Brook McCarthy

ヒンズー教の神秘思想によると、体内にはナディと呼ばれる生命力や気の流れる管が張りめぐらされていると考えられています。
ヨガを実践する事でこのナディの中を通る気の流れを良くしてくれると言われていて、１番効果的なのはナディー・ショダーナ　プラナヤーマです。

プラーナ（気）のエネルギーは私達に生命を吹き込み、エネルギーを与えてくれます。健康状態がいい時はプラーナがとても活発に流れている時で…肉体的、感情的、精神的にストレスを受けていたり、病気の時はいくつかのナディがしっかりと開いておらず、プラーナの流れを制限してしまい…これが体の特定の場所に影響してくるとも言えるでしょう。