Yoga Breathing Techniques

 

To get the most benefit out of these breathing techniques first do a nasal cleansing. Mix one cup of room temperature water with one teaspoon of table salt. Pour some of the saline solution in your hand and inhale it into one nostril, exhale it through the other nostril or through your mouth. Do both sides until your nasal passages are clear/clean. This is also good to do several times a day when you have a cold that is blocking your nasal passages.

Breathe in then relax as you exhale. Most people breath into their chest, 'apical breathers', this makes for a shallow breath. For a deeper, cleansing breath, you want to breathe using your full capacity and for daily breathing, you want to breathe using your diaphragm. Before and after every exercise take at least two relaxing breaths to prepare for the exercise. You can do one or all of these techniques, to do them daily is encouraged.

Name

Posture

Explanation

Basic # 1

Supine/on back

Step # 1. Place your hands on your diaphragm. Inhale through your nose, make your hands rise with your breath. Exhale slowly. Do this six times.

Basic # 2

Supine/on back

Step # 2. Now, inhale into your chest, than into your diaphragm/sides, than into your abdominal. Exhale in reverse, abdominal, sides, and chest. Do this six times. Visualise your breath coming in from your head and out through your feet.

Basic # 3

Supine/on back

Step # 3. Try #2 in reverse. Inhale abdominal, sides, and chest and exhale chest, sides and abdominal. Do this six times. Visualise your breath coming in from your feet and out through your head.

Head Cleansing

Seated/Lotus

Take in a long slow breath and exhale fast, using your abdominal muscle to force the breath out. Do this six times.

Bellows

Seated/Lotus

Leave your left hand, palm up, on your lap. Bring your right hand up to your nose. Place your middle finger on your left nostril, inhale through your right nostril, then place your thumb on your right nostril and exhale through your left. Do this six times, end with exhaling through your right.

Throat Cleansing

Also known as Ujjay breathing

Seated/Lotus

Inhale prana/life force/breath, from your throat to your heart and exhale completely. Your inhale is through your nose with your throat slightly constricted. Your exhale is twice as long and with the throat relaxed and open. Do this six times.

Empty

Seated/Lotus

Do this only once. At the end of your preparation inhale: exhale fully, then purse your lips and exhale more.

Full

Supine/on back

Do this only once. At the end of your preparation exhale: inhale with vigorous 'sniffs' until you can not inhale more.

Now return to relaxing breathing.

 

In a healing state of mind I hope you will enjoy your new-found PRANA - breath of life

.

Vada Muad-dib