Writer: Guest Author - Kalpana
We have all felt peace, joy and positivity when near the sea, or on a mountain, or forest, or out in the open countryside. A significant contributor to this feeling is the presence of negative ions, which are in abundance in any natural surroundings.
The air we breathe has both negative and positive ions. The negative ones have an immensely positive impact to our inner wellbeing. The quantum of negative ions in a natural setting could be 5000 per square foot, whereas in the average urban home it can be as low as 50 per square foot.
Yogic wisdom says your vitality, vibrancy and inner wellbeing is determined by a number of factors, of which a significant one is the quality of your breath. Not just the depth and pace of your breath but the quality of the air you breath in. Air with a high level of negative Ions increases the prana, the vital life force within us. It makes us feel better, lifts our mood, increases our vibrancy, improves the quality of sleep and allows us to operate at our optimal wellbeing.
Scientists have been researching the wellbeing aspect of negative ions for over 100 years. Whilst the research undertaken has not been on a wide enough scale for there to be conclusive evidence, there is sufficient weight to support the conclusion that a greater presence of negative ions reduces symptoms of depression, increases cognitive functions, increases reaction speed and alleviates anxiety. The studies have also shown that a greater presence of positive ions has the converse impact.
Yogic breathing in a place of high negative ions will have a multiplying beneficial impact to your yoga practice, inner wellbeing and vitality. It is why yoga retreats are always in places of nature and why advanced Yogi’s retreat to the mountains and forests to go deeper into their meditation.
With the yurt at Souland Yoga (situated opposite Aldenham Park) you do not have to go far from London to experience the multiplying effects of doing yogic breathing in nature with the abundance of negative ions.
I can attest to feeling the difference when practising yoga in the yurt; from finding that focus and meditative stillness with comparative ease to feeling refreshed and with an increased vitality at the end of the class. Without fail I have always had the best sleep after doing Kundalini Yoga in the yurt and the sweetest memories of a hearing the birds tweeting and watching a butterfly fluttering in and out of the yurt during our practice.