Yoga with Lakshmi - 10 Minutes Pranayama Breathing

Decolonise your yoga with Lakshmi as she takes you through various aspects of yoga.

About Pranayama:
According to the Upanishads and Yoga treatises, Jivatma, the spark of Paramatma, is separate for each individual and resides in a hollow space in the heart.

The heart, as referenced here, is not to be confused with the literal organ that pumps blood, but a body in the middle of the chest. From this body, there are 101 nerves, each subdividing to 72, 000 nerves through which all sensations travel

Thus, outwards from the hollow space in the heart where the Jivatma resides, we have the Prana, the mind, the Jnana Indriyas and the Karma Indriyas

Behind the jivatma we have the paramatma. The nerves form the outward link. These paths are to be made clear for the passage of various forces emanating from the Jivatma and this cleansing is done by the practice of proper types of pranayama. If the jivatma functions through the white (sattvic) nerves, good deeds are accomplished. If through the others, bad deeds result. So that good nerves may be cleansed, it is emphasised in the Yoga and treatises that pranayama practiced should be of proper types.

There are 3 stages:
Murcha, Mrita and Baddha

Murcha (cures disease): prana functions without one’s consciousness, as in normal deep sleep (or poisons, intoxicants, disease etc)
In this stage of deep sleep, the energy which normally goes out from jivatma in normal waking hours, retreats back to its resting place in the hollow of the heart

This can also be achieved in waking hours through Murcha pranayama. The Jivatma gets absorbed in Paramatma

Mrita (conquers death): this is the stage in the nadishodhana pranayama during bahya kumbakam, prana is raised through the sushumna and made to rest in the sahasrara chakra. During this stopping of the prana, the mind concentrates on God, either in the gross form or in the subtle form. At first the concentration will be on God with form, in all his splendour, and as practice advances the mind concentrates on one definite portion of the form and finally the mind loses its consciousness. In this final stage the individual merges in God, sathsampathi. In this stage the individual has conquered death

Baddha (increases energy): In doing ujayi, nadishodhana, suryabedhana. Pranayama, when doing anthar kumbakam the breath can be retained for more than 64 seconds. This stage is thus reached. This increases one’s energy.

- excerpts from the book Yoga Makarandha by The legendary master T.Krishnamacharya.
Decolonise your yoga with Lakshmi as she takes you through an authentic yoga routine, including Sanskrit mantras. Having studied yoga for over 20 years, Mahalakshmi is a passionate yoga practitioner but considers herself to be still a student. She believes in sharing yoga in its fullest form. Although she encourages self learning, lessons can be booked with her, visit:

To support the production of our videos, feel free to make a contribution! The monies goes towards helping Struggling Yoga teachers in India.

Check out Sanskriti shop for cultural and ayurvedic products:

About Sanskriti:
In an effort to reclaim our traditional practices, Sanskriti strives to promote and encourage native practitioners. It is well known that the Yoga industry currently is heavily dominated by exploitative western brands and practitioners that continue to dilute and profit off practices whilst
distorting the Real Yoga by cutting it off from its Dharmic Hindu roots, by ignoring the Hindu religious and philosophical thoughts behind the practice, by ignoring the Yamas and Niyamas etc. This is neocolonialism at its finest. While native people are slowly regaining confidence in their identity after centuries of intellectual and physical slavery, they are still riddled with obstacles and disadvantaged when it comes to reconnecting with their ancient practices. This reiterates the importance of supporting native businesses, practitioners, scholars etc. Our journey to reconnect with our roots cannot be divorced from the racial experience that goes hand in hand with it.

[angelicaxochitl]

I am so happy this channel exists ❤️ I’m so glad to learn more about yoga from a real yogi. Thank you so much for this work!

[Createyour_great]

Your guided yoga videos are so sacred. I can feel the clear and true energy in my mind and body after completing one of your practices and I also feel cleared of bad energy. Thank you for your work and passion. Sending love.

[maleehaelsadr]

It was nice to be able to close my eyes and only peek when I wasn’t sure of position. Thank you for sharing this. The presence it requires helped me to see some things that I had been struggling with more clearly.

[mariabu]

Thank you so much for this video and channel! I really hope it will continue to growth ❤❤

[alexfukumoto]

There's so much value in these videos, thank you for making them. I hope they continue to be worth your while to make <3

[aakankshadhuri]

Thank you this is just perfect. Easily fit into the mornings. Thanks for creating this ❤

[jwow]

i LOVED this! thank you so much for sharing this with us. <3 thank you Lakshmi

[RobynCaine]

I love all your practices. Thank you so much for sharing. Where can I access more of your videos?

[RaquelSoares-dohj]

I’m so happy your daughters TikTok came on my for you page! Love your calming nature. ❤️✨

[purplemonsoon]

This is such a helpful video. I’ve been using it for months now!
Would you be able to make a longer version of pranayama please? ❤

[LeleLili-dqzk]

I've been enjoying this breathwork for the last months! Fantastic, I really feel its impact.
Could you please upload more breathwork videos? Perhaps longer ones as well? Would greatly appriciate it.

[nrinka]

thank you for this quick 10 mins breath work. loved it!

[cassieokirk]

This was beautiful, thank you so much for teaching us.

[robertasandall]

thank you so muchh<3 blessings from brazil

[sabbycat]

Thank you so much for your work that you do! This is very helpful as someone with mental illness, I am able to feel peace. 💖💖

[ChezzaOuttaNowhere]

I feel like i need to say Thank you every time i do this practice. I’ll just make sure i say it on every video. This is so appreciated.

[yazminlisette]

thank you so much for this video and teachings ❤

[magicworldbyjorg]

, a cool video keep up the great content.. Thank you….

[hippityhoppityilikemypriva]

Just finished for the first time, I’ve never done real yoga but I was curious about it after taking a religion class in college and I’m surprised how similar this is to a lot of things I learned in DBT therapy, also even though I didn’t do it perfectly my sinuses feel very clear and I feel super awake and alert yet calm. So happy you shared this with all of us, thankyou ❤

[silviasoul]

I'm doing this on a regular basis 🥰