Just Breathe

Pranayama refers to the breathing techniques used in yoga.  Breathe is life and yoga is only considered true when movement and breath work in unity.  Pranayama is considered on of the “8 Limbs of Yoga” (basically the tenants for living an authentic, healthy lifestyle).

Ujjayi Breathing

Used to enhance and empower your practice, linking breathe with movement.  

How?

Relax your body and gently close your eyes. Let your mouth drop open slightly. Relax your jaw and your tongue.  Inhale and exhale deeply through your mouth. Feel the air of your inhalations passing through your windpipe.  On your exhalations, slightly contract the back of your throat, as you do when you whisper. Softly whisper the sound, “ahhh,” as you exhale. Imagine your breath fogging up a window. When you can comfortably control your throat during the inhalations and exhalations, gently close your mouth and begin breathing only through your nose. Keep the same constriction in your throat as you did when your mouth was open. You will continue to hear the “ocean” sound as you breathe through your nose. Direct the breath to travel over your vocal cords, across the back of your throat. Keep your mouth closed, but your lips soft.

Let your inhalations fill your lungs to their fullest expansion. Completely release the air during your exhalations.

Benefits:

  • Improves concentration, allowing full deep breathes and ability to meet challenges in the physical practice
  • Diminishes distractions, promoting self awareness
  • Regulates the heating of the body
  • Releases tension and tight areas of the body

Alternate Nostril Breathing

Clears out blocked energy channels in the body, which in turn calms the mind.

How?

Sit comfortably with your spine erect and shoulders relaxed. Place the tip of the index finger and middle finger of the right hand in between the eyebrows, the ring finger and little finger on the left nostril, and the thumb on the right nostril. We will use the ring finger and little finger to open or close the left nostril and thumb for the right nostril.  Gently press your thumb down on the right nostril and breathe out gently through the left nostril.  Now breathe in from the left nostril and then press the left nostril gently with the ring finger and little finger. Removing the right thumb from the right nostril, breathe out from the right. Breathe in from the right nostril and exhale from the left. Complete 9 such rounds by alternately breathing through both the nostrils. After every exhalation, remember to breathe in from the same nostril from which you exhaled. Keep your eyes closed throughout and continue taking long, deep, smooth breaths without any force or effort.

Benefits:

  • Excellent breathing technique to calm and center the mind.
  • Helps to bring mind to the present moment.
  • Works therapeutically for most circulatory and respiratory problems.
  • Releases accumulated stress in the mind and body effectively and helps relax.
  • Helps harmonize the left and right hemispheres of the brain, which correlate to the logical and emotional sides of our personality.
  • Maintains body temperature.
  • Releases tension and tight areas of the body