If you have read a few of my older posts, then you may have picked up the emphasis I made on breathing.
For beginners, it is highly recommended to learn deep breathing, which provides an introduction on how breathing plays a very important role in your yoga practice and your health as a whole.
Yoga practice and the way you breathe is closely intertwined. In fact, you will not be able to fully experience and enjoy the great benefits of yoga if you do not learn how to breathe properly. It is that important.
If you want to learn how you can use breathing to fully tap into the yoga benefits and breathe your way to health, this article will provide you some valuable pointers. But first and foremost, it is important to keep in mind that different types of yoga require different types of breathing. If the main goal of your yoga practice is to promote relaxation, then your breathing should support that goal. This means, you need to take long, calming deep breaths designed to slow down your heart rate as you ease into certain yoga poses.
Here are a few important pointers on proper breathing:
Breathe Freely
Each breath you draw originates from your diaphragm, where you are on your yoga mat or off it. As you breathe in, your stomach will slightly puff out as your diaphragm gets filled with air. As you exhale, your diaphragm will flatten upon emptying itself of air. With this in mind, make sure that with every breath you draw in, your stomach moves naturally as the diaphragm is filled with air. Make sure not to do anything to restrict this natural movement.
Relax The Muscles
It is important that you learn to relax every muscle in your face, chest, shoulders and neck as you perform your yoga poses in order to fully benefit from your yoga practice. Sometimes, you may not be aware that you are clenching a specific body part or that a certain muscle is locked. Try to clench that area of the body then carefully release all the tension.
Keep It Smooth And Easy
Maintain smooth and easy breathing as you move from one yoga pose to another. Each of us have our own unique natural rate. Keep in mind that developing awareness of your breathing does not mean you should alter or control it. Simply take notice of your breathing and ease into your natural rhythm.
Exhale Slowly
When you are breathing rapidly, your body is either in a state of excitement or reacting to stress. If you are keen on promoting relaxation, you should focus more on accentuation your exhalation. This means, simply breathe in normally but make sure that you exhale your breathe longer, focusing on emptying your lungs and diaphragm of air.
Visualize Each Breath
While the body can be deprived of water and food for extended periods of time, it cannot go without air for several minutes. This shows us the importance of paying attention to our breathing and recognizing the important role it plays in our health and well-being.
