Weekly Practice Journals: Theme: Pranayama & Practice: -How is pranayama taught/practiced in your practice space(s)? What is the purpose of breath work in your practice space? Is breath the "focus"of your practice? Explain why it is, or is not.

I wouldn't say that breathe work is really a major part of my practice. Like i mentioned in previous blogs, I mostly go to hot yoga but sometimes i switch it up when i am able to or when it is offered at a time i am available. I only am able to go really early in the morning or the latest class they offer which is usually 8/ 8:30. I love night classes especially when I do yin yoga. Doing yin yoga after a stressful day is my favorite, it's so relaxing and just so rewarding I don't even know how to explain it. Depending on who the teacher is sometimes we focus on breath more than usual. I personally don't like breathe work because I feel like i cant hold my breathe as long as most people in the class do. I don't know why, i feel like I always had this problem for as long as i remember.

In class meditation

In class Marcello came in and did some meditation with us and I loved it. I have tried meditating before and it never really worked on me because I did not allow it to. During some counseling appointments I have had in the past, the counselors have tried doing some meditation practices with me and at the time I was just not allowing my body to relax. For some reason in class It really worked on me. I don't know if it was because I was already so tired or because I have been very stressed out lately my body was like " ok gab come on chill out for a few minutes" but whatever the case was I really enjoyed it. I found myself in such a deep relaxation I dont think I've ever felt that way before.

Due: Weekly Practice Journals: Theme: Yoga as “meditation”: -Is yoga used as a form of meditation in your practice space(s)? If so, how is meditation practiced? explained? If not, why do you believe meditation is absent from your "yoga" practice?

I would say that meditation is used as part of my practice. Like I have said in my past posts, I do hot yoga alot so I would say that we usually do a little bit of meditation toward the end when we are down sweating everything out of our bodies. I love that part of the practice. I feel so rewarded after I worked so hard for 90 minutes.