Breathing in Yoga
HOW TO CONNECT THE BREATH TO THE MOVEMENT?
Yoga breathing, also known as pranayama, is a fundamental aspect of the practice that helps deepen and enhance the postures. It is the fourth limb of the eight limbs of yoga as outlined by Patanjali. However, connecting the breath to movement in yoga can be challenging for some.
To better understand how to breathe in yoga, it is important to practice yoga breathing exercises. A good place to start is by incorporating a slow flow into your practice. This allows you to focus on your breath and become more aware of your patterns.
PRANAYAMA = BREATH CONTROL
PRANA = LIFE FORCE ENERGY
AYAMA = TO CONTROL OR EXTEND
One simple exercise to begin with is to sit in an upright, comfortable position and place one hand on your belly and the other hand on your upper chest. As you breathe, notice the movement of your chest and tummy. Once you become more connected to your center, you can start breathing more deeply by expanding your tummy as you inhale and exhale slowly through your mouth. This is the basic yoga breathing technique.
Observing the sensations within your body as you explore the flow of your breath is a powerful tool for effectively using asanas, or movements and postures. To integrate yoga breathing and movement, try standing up, moving, and connecting one cycle of breath to one movement.
It is important to remember that connecting the breath to movement in yoga takes practice. Incorporating regular yoga breathing exercises into your practice, rather than leaving big gaps in between, will help improve your technique.
Namaste