If only we could spend the rest of our allotted lifespans at these wellness getaways. But, life has a nasty way of forcing us back on the ground and within a few hours, bursts the bubble of euphoria. My best experience was in the Ayurvedic spa of a resort called Centacor Island - off the coast of Karwar, and allegedly the only privately owned island in India. The massage table overlooked the ocean, and if you were lucky, could see dolphins playing in the water. And then, you have to leave.
The clavicular breathing technique during pranayama is something I always found counterintuitive because we're told to "breathe from the belly" our whole lives. But in practice that upper chest/clavicle breath recruits the accessory respiratory muscles in a way that actually builds capacity for stress regulation, especially when alternated with diaphragmatic breathing. I tried this at a yoga retreat last year and honestly it felt wierd at first, almost like forcing air into places it shouldn't go, but over time it does create more awarness of how breath moves through different parts of the body. The fact that this technique is paired with the full-body oil massage makes sense becuase both are about unwinding tension that accumulates in surprising places.
Hilarious piece! Such a fun read, with lovely descriptions of Ayurvedagram.
If only we could spend the rest of our allotted lifespans at these wellness getaways. But, life has a nasty way of forcing us back on the ground and within a few hours, bursts the bubble of euphoria. My best experience was in the Ayurvedic spa of a resort called Centacor Island - off the coast of Karwar, and allegedly the only privately owned island in India. The massage table overlooked the ocean, and if you were lucky, could see dolphins playing in the water. And then, you have to leave.
True!
The clavicular breathing technique during pranayama is something I always found counterintuitive because we're told to "breathe from the belly" our whole lives. But in practice that upper chest/clavicle breath recruits the accessory respiratory muscles in a way that actually builds capacity for stress regulation, especially when alternated with diaphragmatic breathing. I tried this at a yoga retreat last year and honestly it felt wierd at first, almost like forcing air into places it shouldn't go, but over time it does create more awarness of how breath moves through different parts of the body. The fact that this technique is paired with the full-body oil massage makes sense becuase both are about unwinding tension that accumulates in surprising places.