

Location : Lazi, Siquijor Island, Philippines
Pushing the Breath Boundary
As I go deeper into my study of Hatha Yoga Pradipika, I learn about the importance of breathing ratios in pranayama. Before, I would simply hold my breath as long as I could while doing bandhas - to me, breath-hold is only a means to be established in bandhas. But now, I wanted to know if I was missing something by not strictly adhering to the ratios.
Metronome
First, I downloaded a metronome app, then I pushed my Nadi Shodhana limit to a 1:4:2:3 ratio with 5 seconds as one count, with maha bandha mudra engaged - this is as much as I can push it, still maintaining that I don't strain. This means I'm holding one breath for 45 seconds while engaging all the locks before the next breath. I would set my timer to 30 minutes.
Capping at 15 Minutes
When I begin my first round, I'm already on my limit. The more rounds, the more I struggle, keeping in mind that straining means I'm pushing it too far. At 15 minutes, I can't continue anymore. I can't help but gasp for the next breath. Should I shorten my count to 4 seconds instead? Should I simply remove the exhale-hold so that it's only 1:4:2 ratio? Hmmm. I have to find a way to keep the 5-sec count.
Pre/Post Nadi Shodhana
To prolong my sustenance, I resorted to 2 rounds of Wim Hof breathing - 30 full breaths/round. Then I began my Nadi Shodhana. Still, at 15 minutes, I'm gasping for air. Instead of stopping, I simply transitioned the pranayama to a Kapalabhati. Interestingly, when I usually do Kapalabhati, I feel pain before the 1-minute threshold, causing me to stop. However, after doing the Nadi Shodhana, I could almost do Kapalabhati indefinitely. Still, I didn't push my limit.
Meditation
After all that breathing, especially after the last exhale, I immediately transition into meditation. This is perhaps the best way to commence a meditation practice. I find myself going into emptiness much quicker, as though I'm slipping fast into a drop-off. My meditation isn't very deep or long. It's enough that I can sink into awareness and reboot my system.
Ending Thoughts
The addition of the metronome to my pranayama makes my practice a lot more controlled, disciplined and challenging. There is no room for negotiating. I'm enslaved (in a good way) by the beat, in the same way a musician is enslaved by his beat. If I can uphold the suggested frequency of a pranayama practice (4x/day, 4am, noon, sunset and midnight), I could just imagine my nadis purified in a compressed time frame. Next after that? Hopefully, siddhis! I know, siddhi should never be the goal. But like a child burned by his own curiosity, I'm willing to take the risk.
Furthermore, by reading Hatha Yoga Pradipika, integrating, immersing and internalizing, I get to know and remain aware of yoga's many nuances...little details I didn't know exist, and answers to some sought-after questions. I started reading this book in Sep 2022 and it's already Jan 2023. I don't rush it. I want to make sure I know every chapter and that I've practiced it.
--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
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More on Lazi:
More on Siquijor Island:
Jeeps - there are only 2 routes for jeeps within Siquijor Island - and they are rare. Most people have their own motorcycle transport.
Food - these were suggested by a local to me
En route to Cebu City, the ferries usually make a stop-over to Tagbilaran (Bohol) to pick-up more passengers or unload.
There is only one bus plying this route - Sugbo Urban. Tourist class coach, a/c, comfortable, Sun-Fri (these dates keep changing). P420 for bus, P275 for ferry to Liloan. Larena Port around 5 am, makes a clockwise roundtrip around Siquijor Island - Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi (stops at Lazi market for breakfast and leaves 6:50 am), San Juan, Siquijor (arrives 8am, P50 from Lazi to Siquijor Poblacion) and catches the 1pm ferry at Larena Port (Sundays at 3 pm) for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) 10 pm.
Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because it goes around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena where it takes the ferry at 1 pm. This saves you the hassle and high transport cost of a tricycle. Besides, it's a long trip from the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.
These are the nearest popular destinations from Siquijor by boat
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