Being conscious of your breathing during yoga brings balance and awareness to your practice. By utilizing breathing awareness techniques during yoga, you can tune in to the intricate rhythms of your body and find ways to calm your entire system. As you begin to align your movements with your breath, you prepare yourself for the meditative components of your yoga practice. A simple breathing awareness exercise will introduce you to breathing during yoga.
Breathing Awareness Exercise
Step 1
Find a comfortable space to either sit or lie down on your back. Make sure you are free of any distractions.
Step 2
Take a deep inhale and on the exhale close your eyes, or soften your gaze. Make sure to keep your facial muscles relaxed.
Step 3
Bring your attention to your abdomen by placing both hands on your stomach.
Step 4
Inhale your breath and slowly and begin to expand your abdomen, making it full and round. As you are inhaling, think of your breath expanding in all directions from the center of your pelvis.
Step 5
Exhale your breath and gently press your stomach downward with your hands. Feel your exhalation completely deflate your abdomen until it is somewhat concave.
Step 6
Focus on equalizing the length of your inhalation and exhalation. With each exhalation, allow yourself to let go of any tension you feel in your body.
Step 7
Repeat this exercise five to seven times.
Tips and Warnings
- In order to equalize your breaths, you can silently count to five as you breath in, and again as you breath out.
- Do not get discouraged if you find it difficult to concentrate while performing this exercise. It is normal to feel tension in your body or to become distracted by your thoughts. Observe your body and your thoughts during this exercise; try using your breath to gradually exhale your tensions or distractions.
References
- "Yoga Journal's Yoga Basics"; Mara Carrico; 1997
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