Beyond history and theory, science and exploration, and even intention and technique, lies the breath. In most cases, with the exception of various illnesses, it happens naturally and effortlessly for as long as we are alive. Though it might seem free of intention or effort, the breath is always affected by everything within us and around us, whether or not we are conscious of this. Here, we aim to cultivate a deeper awareness of the breath, with breath awareness serving as both the foundation and the space for the journey ahead: as a foundation, it marks the first step of all pranayama practices; as a space, it embodies an expanded and more subtle awareness, opening the way to explore whatever arises in the practice itself.

Breath awareness is a nuanced practice that invites us to develop a profound and holistic experience in the act of breathing. It is not merely about observing the breath as an isolated phenomenon but involves cultivating an intricate, loving, embodied presence tha...

Just as lions, elephants, and tigers are gradually controlled, so the prana is controlled through practice. Otherwise, the practitioner is destroyed.
– Hatha Yoga Pradipika, 2:15

The term vritti translates to "fluctuate," referring here to the subtle shifts in breathing patterns that can be consciously refined through practice. We find this practice in the 7th-8th century Mrgendra Tantra Yogapada and further details in Narayanakantha’s 10th century commentary on that text, though neither name it as a technique.

Vritti pranayama involves playing with the natural variations in our breathing, bringing greater awareness to the interplay between our inhalations, exhalations, and their transitions. In working with the rhythm and duration of our breathing, we can fine-tune it, and, with it, our awareness, emotional states, and energetic balance. It is also a vital tool for expanding our breathing capacity, gradually transforming what respiratory science refers to as our total lung capacity–n...

Growing up just a few miles upstream from Santa Cruz, California, September was our favorite time to spend endless hours in the swimming holes along the San Lorenzo River. With the tourists gone after Labor Day, the days were hot, dry, and made for being outside in the magic of “Indian Summer.”

Yet school always beckoned, vacations ended, and the sun’s arc sank lower each day as the Autumnal Equinox drew near. By October, change was undeniable: maples and sycamores turned color, watermelons gave way to pumpkins, squirrels busied themselves for winter. Still, we insisted, it was almost summer.

Decades later, I still feel that in-between quality of the season. Add in the effects of global warming and it can seem like summer never ends. Yet the shift is real – routines reset, energies rebalance, and our senses reveal the turning of the year.

The Autumn Equinox – September 22 this year – marks the midpoint between summer and winter. For traditional cultures attuned to nature’s rhythms, ...