• Home
  • Exercise
  • Breathing technique in yoga- How proper breathing helps against stress
Breathing technique in yoga- How proper breathing helps against stress

Breathing technique in yoga- How proper breathing helps against stress

Posted on Apr 27, 2022 at 3:04 PM

Yoga offers a very diverse and holistic way to harmonize body and mind, strengthen muscles, stretch the body and relieve stress and tension. The central elements here are consciously executed exercises and postures, which are supplemented by subsequent relaxation techniques. But the fact that the element of breathing is just as important as the execution of the exercises is often forgotten. What are the so-called pranayama exercises good for and how do they work?

Through our everyday breathing, we primarily take in oxygen through our lungs. Yoga, however, is also about taking in vital energy through the breath. The deep and conscious inhalation and exhalation of yoga brings us back to a primal flow of breath, reduces stress, promotes concentration, and even slows the heartbeat. The pranayama exercises, however, do much more. Depending on the exercise, they have either a balancing and relaxing effect or an activating and strengthening effect. These three yoga breaths are especially important for a balanced and stress-free daily life:

1. Full Yoga Breathing.

Full yoga breathing is about discovering and using three different breathing spaces of the body. Those of the abdomen, midsection and rib level. To do this, lie on your back with your hands on your lower belly. Breathe deeply in the direction of your hands and feel them rise. Now try this with all three spots.

2. Ujjayi Pranayama

This breathing exercise is designed to calm the central nervous system and is said to be deeply relaxing. For Ujjayi Pranayama, first inhale slowly through the nose. Now slowly exhale through the slightly open mouth, creating a gentle rushing sound in the throat. Now just continue breathing with this method, advanced practitioners can also do this with their mouth closed.

3. Nadi Sodhana Pranayama

Alternate breathing is the most classical breathing in yoga. It also has a balancing effect that lowers blood pressure and promotes concentration. Sit comfortably and breathe in and out slowly at first. Use your right hand to place it immediately against your nose. Make a fist and stick out your thumb and ring finger. The thumb is placed on your right nostril so that you can only breathe in through the left one. Then cover your left nostril with your ring finger and exhale. Continue in this manner, alternating. Each inhalation and exhalation should take about 4 seconds.

Have fun trying it out!

Citation