Breathing Yoga - Importance of Breathing in yoga

Yoga Breathing or Pranayama, is the foundation of your yoga practice. It begins with deepening your breathing with the 3-part breath, then moves into more advanced breathing exercises such as Kapalabhati and the Alternate Nostril Breath. Pranayama also goes hand in hand with the Asanas. These two Yogic Principles together are considered as the highest form of purification and self-discipline, covering both mind and body.

In order to live and keep the body healthy, we require not only food and water, but also air to breathe. The air we breathe is even more important than eating and drinking. Without food we can survive several weeks. Without water we can survive for a few days. However, without breathing we can survive for just a few minutes. Our life begins and ends with a breath.

Within one breath, three phases can be distinguished

1, Inhalation

2, Exhalation

3, Pause in breathing

One phase flows into the other. The exhalation should last approximately twice as long as the inhalation. The pause in breathing arises naturally at the end of the exhalation phase and lasts until the impulse to inhale occurs of its own accord. The inhalation forms the active part of the breath. With it comes contraction of the respiratory muscles. The exhalation is the passive part of the breath, the phase of relaxation.

Quiet, regular and deep breathing is decisive for our health. It has a harmonising and calming effect upon body and mind. On the other hand, breathing that is too rapid and shallow has a negative influence upon us, as it can intensify nervousness, stress, tension and pain.

A frequent mistake in breathing is drawing the abdomen in as the chest expands, rather than relaxing the abdomen forwards. Drawing in the abdomen considerably impairs deep breathing. Often fashion and restrictive clothing inhibits this natural movement.

Therefore, all exercises in Yoga, including the breath exercises, should be practiced slowly and without unnecessary tension - without ambition or competition. The breath should be silent and through the nose (Because the air is filtered, moistened and warmed within the nose.). Over a period of time and with practice, one tries to gradually slow and lengthen the breath. Only through correct breathing can the full effects of the Yoga exercises totally unfold.

With all exercises it is very important that they are practised in a physically and mentally relaxed state. A physically relaxed state is essential, as it is only then that the muscles can stretch in the respective Asana without creating tension. A mentally relaxed state is necessary so that the Asanas can be practiced with full concentration on relaxing and breathing. By exhaling consciously, one can considerably assist in the relaxation of the muscles, as the relaxation of the muscles is connected to the exhalation.

Yoga shows us how body and mind can be influenced by different breathing techniques. Unfortunately our normal method of breathing has moved a long way from the natural and correct way of breathing. A fundamental requirement to restore healthy breathing is practice of the Full Yoga Breath.