While breathing is important throughout your yoga session, certain poses allow for easier breathing by placing your body in a chest-opening position. Other poses create comfort for the muscles of the body, allowing you to relax and focus on your breath. Throughout your yoga practice, try to spend five to 10 minutes in one or two yoga breathing poses.
Lying
Corpse pose, or savasana, is a prone lying relaxation pose. You lie on your back with your legs extended on the floor straight out from your body and your arms extended along the sides of your body. Your palms face up toward the sky and your shoulders make contact with the ground. As you breathe, inhale through your nose and feel the breath traveling down your throat, into your lungs and then into diaphragm, which is just above your stomach. Use this three-part inhale and exhale as you remain in corpse pose for five to 10 minutes.
Seated
Lotus pose is a seated pose that allows your body to relax and improves your breathing. Begin lotus pose by sitting on the floor and placing your right foot, sole up, on your left thigh. Remain here in this half-lotus pose if your right knee does not remain in contact with the floor. To continue, place your left foot, sole up, on your right thigh. The backs of your hands may be placed against your knees with your fingers left open or your thumb and first fingers touching. Your back remains straight in this position which allows for easier breathing.
Kneeling
Lion pose, or simhasana, is a kneeling pose that you can use to deepen your breathing. To begin lion pose, position yourself onto your hands and knees, close the distance between your knees and then place the front of your right foot over the back of your left ankle. Sink your hips onto your heels as you straighten your upper body and lift your hands from the ground to be placed on your thighs. Your fingers can be spread apart as if they were a lion's claws. Inhale through your nose. As you exhale, open your mouth, extend your tongue toward your chin, tighten the muscles in your neck, open your eyes and say "ah" as the breath flows out. "Yoga Journal" suggests roaring two or three times and then crossing your legs the opposite way before repeating.
Standing
Mountain pose, or tadasana, is a standing pose you can remain in to practice breathing. In mountain pose, your body is tall with your feet placed together and your arms at your sides with your palms facing forward. To protect your neck, position your chin parallel with the floor. You can close your eyes or keep them open as you inhale and exhale through your nose. During your breathing, attempt to keep your body still as if it were a mountain and not a tree that shifts in the breeze.
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