Breath work, or pranayama, is an important element of yoga that can enhance the benefits and improve the execution of yoga postures. In Sanskrit, "prana" refers to vital energy or life force of the body and "ayama" means to control, increase or extend. Pranayama is therefore the control of the body's life force. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that breath control increases blood flow to the brain and improves elasticity in the lungs. It can also help you build stamina in your yoga practice.
Ujjayi Breathing
The type of breathing most commonly practiced in yoga is ujjayi breathing, or victory breathing. Ujjayi breathing consists of long, deep inhales and exhales that are equal in length. To practice ujjayi breathing, imagine your breath passing through the base of your throat. Your breath should have a throaty sound to it, as if you are fogging up a mirror. Close your lips and keep the throaty quality to your breath as you inhale and exhale through the nostrils. Your breath should be audible, but with a soothing quality.
Alternate Nostril Breathing
Alternate nostril breathing, or channel cleansing breath, is a method of cleansing the pathways through which prana flows. According to the Albuquerque Public Schools Department of Health and Wellness, naturally occurring breathing cycles in the nostrils correspond with brain function. If congestion is present in one nostril, it can affect the electrical activity on the opposite site of the brain.
To keep both sides of the brain balanced, use the ring finger and thumb of your right hand to close off one nostril and then the other. Start by exhaling and inhaling through your left nostril slowly and deeply, and then repeat on the right. Complete five to 10 rounds of breath and add more as your build stamina.
80-20 Breathing
This technique is helpful for certain postures that require you to maintain strength to hold the pose. To practice 80-20 breathing, take in a full breath and enter the posture with your lungs full. Exhale 20 percent of the air in your lungs through your nose and then take in a full breath. Continue breathing in this manner, keeping 80 percent of the air in your lungs. According to Bikram's Yoga College of India, keeping oxygen in the lungs provides the strength needed to hold the pose for an extended period of time.
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