The Power of Pranayama

Written by Amanda Dzengeleski

Thank you for making Dogwood Studios a refuge for all! Like many of you, the teachers at Dogwood Studios find our time together the highlight of our week. Our yoga time would not be such a special place without YOU. Thank you for being part of our community.

Because of your heartfelt support, Dogwood Studios is proud to share that we were able to raise $1,250 for The LGBTQ Center of Durham! Thank you to all those who participated in our Service Week. We are grateful for your generosity and for caring about the welfare of others.

Because of your support, Dogwood Studios was voted Best of 2023. It is more than an award for us. Being voted Best of is a testament of how amazing our community is. Thank You for valuing our time together and sharing that with the wider community.

Chapel Hill Magazine even highlighted Tom and Karyn’s experience at Dogwood Studios in their July/August edition. If you didn’t get an opportunity to read the whole article, here’s some of the highlights:

As we continue to practice together, we look forward to hearing more about your amazing stories and the experiences that you have. 

Thank You for being part of our community! You help us make our DE&I statement a living and actionable statement. 

We strive for everyone to feel respected and supported, to be treated equally, and to be celebrated for who they are. We are very excited about our ongoing endeavor to make Dogwood Studios a refuge and beacon of compassionate practice by including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). 

We hope you will breathe with us this August. We are dedicating the month to increasing and balancing our prana with community, nature, relaxation and breathing. We look forward to sharing this space with you.

Prana is the universal life force or energy that runs through us and everything around us. The flow of prana is influenced by the way we think, move, act and breathe. Pranayama, one of Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga, is derived from the Sanskrit words prana (life force) and ayama (expansion). While there are many definitions of pranayama, one interpretation is the control of prana through the breath. The breath is a powerful tool used to direct the flow of prana, increase vitality, and create a calm and balanced state of mind.

Studies suggest that “breathing is intimately linked with mental functions.” The body naturally relieves stress by way of the breath. It’s likely we have all sighed in frustration or at the end of a long day. The breath can help to diffuse our emotional energy so we are less reactive and more equipped to respond. Through conscious awareness and skillful control of the breath, we can learn to regulate our energetic and emotional states. 

The breath has a significant effect on the autonomic nervous system, which regulates the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) responses. By altering the breath, we can help to calm and balance the nervous system. In a state of hyperarousal, our fight or flight response may trigger the breath to quicken or become shallow. This perceived shortness of breath may induce feelings of frustration or anxiety. Through mindful breathing, we can slow and deepen the breath to invite a sense of calm. Deep rhythmic breathing stimulates the vagus nerve and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers our heart rate and reverses our physical stress response. 

In addition, pranayama nourishes the respiratory system by increasing our volume of oxygen intake. By bringing attention to our habitual breathing patterns, we learn to alter the breath to maximize efficiency. Shallow, chest-based breathing can strain the muscles in the neck and lead to increased muscular tension. Many breathing techniques engage the diaphragm and abdominal muscles drawing the breath into the lower lungs, which relaxes the muscles in the neck and results in improved oxygen efficiency. 

Research suggests several benefits to a regular breathing practice:

  • Increased energy

  • Reduced feelings of anxiety or overwhelm

  • Stabilized blood pressure

  • Improved oxygen efficiency 

  • Increased immunity

  • Present moment awareness

With regular practice, we become more attuned to the breath and naturally learn to breathe more effectively. Because the breath is always present, you can practice anywhere, anytime. Through the power of the breath, we create an intimate connection between mind and body and live a more balanced life. 

Sign up for lunchtime learning or any of our group classes using our class sign up page. We look forward to practicing with you!

We look forward to sharing these amazing offerings with you this August:

Mark Your Calendars: Friday Night Yin with Sam continues on August 18, 6:15-7:30 p.m. The slow pace of Yin Yoga provides an opportunity to release and to be in the moment. 

Click here to learn how you can continue to support our local community, after several Chapel Hill businesses were affected last week by a fire on Franklin Street.

If you have questions, reach out to us at info@dogwoodstudioyoga.com. We are here to help. ❤️

Amanda Dzengeleski is a 200-hour registered yoga teacher (RYT), lifelong student, and lover of movement. She first discovered yoga as a form of mind-body medicine that cultivated a deeper state of self-awareness and personal growth. Using a trauma-informed approach, Amanda empowers her students to move freely and intentionally in celebration of body, mind, and soul.

SAM Sather, founder of Dogwood Studios, is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) and an Insight Yoga Institute (IYI) endorsed teacher. She individualizes the yoga practice with appropriate modifications for participants’ unique bodies and medical histories with a focus on finding calm and improving health. She offers several live, online and in person yoga classes as well as private sessions so you can focus on your needs one-on-one.