YEWM.com

Yoga and the Importance of Breathing

Effective breathing is the key to the practice of yoga. The timing of an out-breath can make it possible to stretch a little further and to master a difficult asana. Without correct breathing true relaxation is impossible and peace of mind is hard to achieve. Poor breathing affects the body in other ways sapping the energy, undermining the immune system, making the body more prone to illness, and making us irritable.

The impulse to breathe is involuntary, controlled by the respiratory center in the brain-stem, so that we breathe when we are babies, when we sleep, and when we are not concentrating on breathing. Very early in life, however, the depth and rate of breathing are brought under voluntary control, and they are governed to a large degree by the state of the emotions. We are all instinctively aware that fear, sorrow, depression, and high excitement inhibit the intake of breath. For example we understand when writers speak of people catching their breath in alarm or elation, make a threatening character breathe heavily, and a victim sigh with relief when a threat has passed.

This can often be traced to individual responses to stresses and strains in their life. An unhappy person, for instance, may resort to permanent shallow breathing to deaden the sadness, panting may become a way of life for a person where anger has become habitual.

For almost everyone a large part of learning yo must therefore involve understanding their own breathing pattern, unlearning it, and slowly learning breathe again in a different way. The process can difficult, for it can take weeks to assimilate new breathing habits, but perseverance pays.

There may be good physical reasons for the evolution of the emotional control of breathing. Angry people pant in order to speed the flow of blood to the muscles, in case they need to fight. A person experiencing a sudden, sharp pain might stop breathing momentarily to reduce the intensity of feeling until the spasm has passed. In normal life, breathing is not often called upon to deal with such emotional emergencies, yet as every yoga teacher knows, most people, when tested, find it difficult to breathe naturally.

Core breathing not only makes it easier to stretch a execute the asanas correctly, it brings other, astonishing rewards. Breathing correctly strengthens not just the muscles but all the body's internal systems. Good breathing neutralizes the daily effects of stress and improves health by reducing blood pressure, improving the circulation, and strengthening the neuro-electrical system. It boosts the immune system, preventing illness. And controlled breathing is the fastest and most effective way of breaking down anxiety an anger and lifting depression. An individual who breathes better will also feel better from head to toe, inside and out.

You should bear in mind that a relaxed, posture is the key to good breathing habits. It is equally important to develop the habit of breathing through the nose and not through the mouth. Air is warmed as it passes from the nose into the lungs, and minute, mucus-covered hairs in the nostrils trap particles which might damage the lungs.Effective breathing relaxes body and mind, making it easier to slip into a good night's sleep.

The following pages explain how breathing work and show how to recognize damaging breathing habits that may have developed over many years. They illustrate how to unlearn unnatural breathing and how to learn new ways of breathing to create energy and ensure true relaxation.

Custom Search

Yoga Breathing Videos

Importance Of Breath In Yoga News

Yoga acts as Therapeutic Stress-reliever, Healthy Hobby for Students - The Bottom Line

The Bottom Line

Yoga acts as Therapeutic Stress-reliever, Healthy Hobby for Students The Bottom Line According to ancient Hindu texts, the term 'yoga' is defined as an “evenness” of the mind. Even today, this important concept comes into play as the discipline of yoga requires physical balance as well as a focus on the relaxation of one's thoughts.

Want to have more energy? Do yoga at the Garfield Community Center - Seattle Central District News

Want to have more energy? Do yoga at the Garfield Community Center Seattle Central District News Recovery is an important part of the process of getting stronger and faster. When you catch your breath, you enable your cells to repair and reinvigorate your body. So the next time you ride a bike or go on a run, or what ever you do, ... Yoga 101: Seated Twist, Ardha MatsyendrasanaPatch.com all 5 news articles »

Senator needs to back greenhouse gas measure - Packet Online

Senator needs to back greenhouse gas measure Packet Online Every week, I find time to visit Princeton for one reason: to breathe. I am a regular at Michael Cremone's Yoga Above yoga studio. Yoga teaches the importance of breath through movement and focus; yoga keeps me sane, helps me find peace every day. and more »

What are you doing for yourself? - Heber Springs Sun-Times

What are you doing for yourself? Heber Springs Sun-Times Jack LaLanne used to say there were clinics in Europe that were totally dedicated to teaching people how to breathe. Exercising makes us breathe deeply and that may be one of its most important benefits. I heard a naturopathic physician say that taking ...

Learn the African discipline of yoga - Royal Gazette

Learn the African discipline of yoga Royal Gazette By Cathy Stovell A true yogi master will soon be on the Island to share his practice with locals. Yiser Ra Hotep and his yoga teacher Asar Hapi first studied yoga from Egyptian hieroglyphs 30 years ago. They have since recreated a practice they believe ...