Believe, Breathe and Live

Without the breath, yoga is no longer yoga. ?According to yoga, ‘Breath’ us also noted as ‘prana’, the driving force behind all energy that controls our life.

?How to inhale- The process of inhaling causes the front body to expand, and the movement of the intercostals muscles open the chest upward and out. As the diaphragm moves downward, it compresses the contents of the abdomen, and the belly expands outward.

How to exhale- Exhalations are the passive process of the breathing cycle. During exhalation, the diaphragm and respiratory muscles relax.

?Five golden guidelines should be applied to all yoga practices.

1. Inhale when opening the front of the body.

2. Exhale while compressing the front of the body.

3. If the breath is suspended after inhalation, don’t move.

4. Only move during breath suspension if it’s following an exhalation.

5. Breathe deeply and effortlessly.

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5 Yoga asanas that can help you breathe better

Marjariasana (Cat pose) this pose replicates the fluid spinal movement of a cat and is very good to understand how to breathe in synchronization with your movement.

Sphinx Pose: (Salamba Bhujangasana) this is a gentle backward bending asana. It beautifully opens and expands the chest, which is very essential if you want to improve your breathing.

Setubandh Asana (Bridge Pose) a supine back bend pose that elevates the angle of your chest and lets the lungs breathe freely.

Abdominal Breathing Also known as the Diaphragmatic Breathing, this deep form of breathing method quickly calms and resets the nervous system. It also alleviates the wrong breathing habit that many of us have, of shallow chest breathing.

Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana) this is a centering technique, which aims to balance the flow of your breath in both the sides of your nostril.

?Your Breath Determines Your State Of Mind

Our breath is our dearest companion. A companion who never loses sight of what emotion we are experiencing at any given moment of time. Breath is not only linked to the body but also to the mind. By paying attention to your breath through?breathing exercises, you can bring the mind to a pleasant state by enhancing and regulating the life?force in the system.

?For information, I do few Asanas (Sirasana up to the age of 50) and now do breathing asanas and meditation which keeps me active as ever.

Thanks.