How to Breath Properly
The breath is one of the most
important things in Yoga. Breathing regulates your state of mind, your
emotions, your concentration, etc. Breathing affects our
emotional state, concentration, stress level and sleeping patterns. Learning
to breathe the right way will help us be healthier, calmer and able to handle
more stressful life situations. Plus is makes you even feel better!!! continue
How to Hold the Breath
A yogi should master the
ability to hold the breath in and out. Holding the breath in it seems always
easier than hold the breath out. The reason to this is because
the brain will react when the carbon dioxide, CO2, levels are to high, but it
doesn’t react when the levels of oxygen, O2, go high or low. Base on this fact, you will
be able to hold the breath in or out for longer periods of time, by taken
several inhales, or exhales. Blowing a little bite of air out, or in will
create a change in the levels of the carbon dioxide, CO2... continue
How the Nostrils Work
It seems both nostrils are
always working while breathing through the nose. But there is always one more
predominant than the other one and every 2 ½ hr switches unconsciously to the
other one. The science of nostrils is
called Swara Yoga. It teaches that when a nostril is predominant the opposite
side of the brain it is dominant... continue
Alternative Nostril Breathing
Breathing through the left
nostril is calming, and breathing through the right nostril has an
energizing effect. To learn more about how the nostrils work (very interesting)
Click here. How to do it: (1) Sit down in easy pose, or
rock pose. Keep the spine straight, and shoulders down. Like a yogi. (2) Close with the right thumb
the right nostril. The rest of the fingers are pointing up to the sky. (3) Inhale through the left
nostril. Close the left nostril with the right pinky, and exhale through the
through the right side... continue
Long Deep Breathing
It’s one of the most common
ways to breathe. This type of breathe is done by using the full capacity of the
lungs in both, the inhalation, and the exhalation, slowly, with no rush.
Normally done through the nose because it aids in the breathe control, although
it can be done through the mouth as well... continue
Breath of Fire
Breath of Fire is without a
doubt the most sophisticated Pranayama, breath control. It is an amazing tool
with anxiety, nerves, upset, fear, pain, sadness, etc. Yogi Bhajan said that a
person has granted a determinate number of breaths from birth till his death,
and breath of fire it’s ONE, from the moment you start till you end. This means
you can prolong your life spam by doing Breath of Fire! As mentioned before the way
we feel is directly related to the way we breathe... continue
Sitali Pranayam
Sitali Pranayam, also known
as the “cooling breath”. It’s use with some kriyas, in segmented breaths, and
with Breath of Fire. How to do it: (1) Curl the tongue into a U
shape. (2) Inhale through the curled
tongue. (3) Exhale through the nose... continue
Broken Breaths
In some kriyas its use the
broken breaths. How to do it: (1) This type of breathing works
with a ratio for inhale, hold, exhale, and hold. i.e. 1:4:2:0, 4:16:2:0.
Inhale in four strokes through the nose, hold 4 sec, exhale in two strokes, and
hold the air out O. (2) Another common example is 4:1
ratio. Inhale in 4 equal strokes, like quick sniffs through the nose, and
exhale in one quick stroke through the nose... continue
Whistle Breaths
Make a little whole in your
lips from where the air comes out. Listen to the sound of the whistle as you
breathe. There are two ways to do this type of breath. How to do it: (1) One way is inhaling through
the nose, and exhaling through the mouth making a high pitched sound. (2) The other way is inhaling
through the puckered mouth making a high pitched sound, and exhaling through
the nose... continue
Kapalabhati Breath
Sit in a comfortable sitting
position. The most commonly use sitting position for this type of breath is sitting
on the heels, although you any other one can be use too. Start exhaling
forcefully and noise the air out. At the same time you must push the abdomen
in. Then inhale through the nose quickly and force the air out, pushing the
abdomen in. This type of breath is done in a fast pace... continue
Meditation on the Breath
This is a wonderful meditation when stressed, upset, or fearful. Just by closing the eyes meditate on the breath. Feel the flow coming in and out. Receive every breath as a gift of life. Use the mantra “Sat Nam”, “Sat” means truth... continue
