Pranayama Trouble, Getting nothing Options

Hello

I've been practicing alternate nostril breathing daily for a few months, and I'm just not getting anything out of it. I don't think I'm doing it incorrectly, it's a simple procedure after all. I don't even get the stress reduction or feeling of clarity that some folks report, never mind the deeper aspects of pranayama which, if I understood correctly, involve gaining experience and mastery of prana. Am I just being way too impatient with this practice? If you practice pranayama regularly, what do you get out of it?

Ahava

I wouldn't dream of being greedy! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) The thing is, I'm a musician, so I used to practice breathing exercises to strengthen my diaphragm, which gives a singer much better control over his voice. This was a long time ago, but I used to practice 40 minutes a day, and they were challenging exercises. This is why any Pranayama exercise comes quite easy to me, and I tend to think of practicing for a certain amount of time (using a timer). Hence the metronome idea as well. But you're right, I shall abandon the use of a timer and mentally count instead. It makes sense that doing so will serve to focus the mind. Side note: back then I wasn't into any kind of spiritual practice, and doing those hectic breathing exercises never gave me an experience of prana. I think the reason for this is because there was no intention in place. With any spiritual practice, and especially yoga I believe, the practitioner must have a clear idea of what he wishes to accomplish with his practice. Otherwise Pranayama is just a breathing exercise, instead of an experience of Life Force.

Regarding Vipassana, the instruction I received was quite simple: sit with your eyes closed and your back straight, breathe slowly, pay attention to the sensations that constitute your body, allow all thoughts, feelings, perceptions to arise and pass of their own accord. I guess this is really just mindfulness practice, close to as it's described in the Theravada tradition. (They sometimes require you to contemplate impermanence, but it depends on who you talk to I suppose.) I've never heard that about modifications of mind before though. My understanding of Vipassana and its goal goes along the following lines: The truth about existence must be inherent in existence itself. Therefore, if we are to understand existence, we must first let ourselves be aware of it. The point is to experience the truth, or what is often referred to as enlightenment. By observing the reality (which includes the sensations that constitute the body), our awareness of reality is allowed to 'unfold' as a matter of grace. The diligent practitioner will receive progressive insight into reality (which I do receive) and will eventually reach the peak experience called enlightenment.

I am aware that there is a lot of debate going on about exactly how we should practice, but truthfully, I'm happy with my practice because I get results from it, which to me means that it's working. And also, I just don't have the time for retreats (unfortunately). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/alarm.gif)

This post has been edited by Green Lantern: Nov 6 2013, 01:35 PM