One way that yoga helps reduce pain is through pranayama, or yoga breathing. It is slow and controlled. You concentrate on inhaling deeply and exhaling completely, even holding your breath slightly at the end of your exhalation. Breathing like this while you do yoga, or even by itself, can help you reduce the amount of pain you are feeling.
Proper Breathing
Typically, you breathe in a very shallow manner without giving much consideration to your breath. Yoga breathing teaches you to breathe correctly and fully. This practice supplies your body with more oxygen. Because oxygen is so vital to all parts of your body, it helps them function better. Another part of pranayama is the releasing of toxins. When you exhale you release toxins such as carbon dioxide from your body. Getting rid of this waste also improves the way your body functions.
Relaxation
The slow and steady pace of pranayama causes your body and mind to relax. Tension leaves your muscles and pain is reduced. Yoga breathing forces you to concentrate on your breathing, clearing your mind of other distractions. Getting your mind off your pain and onto your breathing can also result in a reduction of the pain. Relaxing your entire body and releasing the stress you are holding in the various parts of your body will result in less pain.
Practice Pranayama
Practice pranayama daily to learn how to breathe properly. Sit on the ground with your legs crossed and your hands resting on your knees. Keep your torso tall and your abdominal muscles pulled in. Relax your shoulders, elongating your neck. Imagine gliding your shoulder blades down your back toward your hip bones. In this position, inhale deeply, filling your lungs as if you were inflating a balloon. Next, exhale thoroughly, trying to squeeze every bit of air from your lungs. Finally, hold your breath a few moments at the end of your exhalation before beginning the next breath cycle. For exceptional relaxation and increased pain relief, try practicing pranayama in a darkened room with quiet relaxing music.
Pranayama Anywhere
Once you have become skilled at proper yoga breathing, you can take it with you anywhere and use it for pain and stress relief. Anytime you struggle with back pain, you can stop and use a few breath cycles to lessen the amount of pain you are feeling. At the very beginning of a headache, try using pranayama to reduce the severity of the pain. You can practice pranayama at your desk, in your car, or while watching television. Simply stop and concentrate on your breathing, applying the techniques of pranayama: inhale deeply, exhale completely and pause at the end of your breath cycle.
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