Topic 6.08.24​ Breathing in Yoga

Topic 6.08.24​ Breathing in Yoga. VERSION CONTROL: 1 August 2017

Correct breathing makes your postures several times more effective. Breath is life. In Yoga, we use breath to harness body and mind. All postures are done with this body+mind+breath connection.

– Inhalation increases strength and firmness in the muscles.

– Exhalation relaxes and softens them.

Breathe only through your nostrils, and not your mouth.

As a general rule;

exhale as you stretch your body forward and inhale as the body is stretching backwards
exhale when spiraling the body, and inhale when unwinding the spiral
exhale when lifting weights
breathe normally at all other times.

While instructing classes, breathing instructions are generally given to remind students to breathe and to get them into and out of the stretch or a pose.

When holding a posture, do not hold your breath. Do not restrain your breath while in the process of an asana or while staying in it.

Breathe evenly, smoothly and deeply.

Remember to use the nose for breathing and the mouth for talking and eating. If we are going to use the mouth for breathing we might as well use the nose for eating and talking!

Refer to Shanti Gowans’  book: Breathe for Health.