3 Yoga Breathing Exercises: Yoga Pranayama's For Lungs

Breathing exercises in yoga are known as Pranayama or the practise of breath control. Regular practise of pranayamas can benefit both your mind and body. In addition, practising these breathing exercises in yoga can recharge your mind while making your core stronger.

What you need to know:

What is breathing yoga?
Health benefits of yoga breathing exercises
Types of breathing exercises in yoga

What is breathing yoga?

Benefits of yoga _activ living

Breathing exercises in yoga are mindfulness activities that can help you boost your physical and mental state. These exercises require breathing in and out while keeping your mouth closed.

Practising these breathing exercises in yoga can help you gather your prana (life force) and make it focused. It can also make you more calm and help you to relax in the present. There are several types of yoga breathing exercises that you can practise in daily life to boost your health.

Health benefits of yoga breathing exercises

Here are some of the breathing exercises benefits that you can reap if you practise them daily:

Enhanced mental clarity: Pranayama breathing increases oxygen intake, effectively cleansing the body of carbon dioxide.
Mindfulness cultivation: Engaging in pranayama grounds you in the present moment and makes you attentive, allowing you to be more mindful.
Strengthens the respiratory system: Pranayama breathing exercises enhance lung function and capacity. Breathing exercises also enable blood vessels to expand. As a result, you develop improved circulation and a healthy immune system.
Enhanced sleep quality: Breathing exercises in yoga can also improve the quality of sleep and help your body relax.

By incorporating pranayama techniques into your routine, you can cultivate a focus that reduces anxiety and depression.

Types of breathing exercises in yoga

Here are some of the most commonly practised breathing exercises in yoga:

Bhramari:

The name of this breathing yoga translates to ‘large bee’ because it involves making a buzzing sound while exhaling. Practising bhramari calms the nerves as the vibrations of the sound you produce to create a state of homeostasis for your body.

Follow these steps:

Sit with your legs crossed and back straight but relaxed.
Inhale deeply through your nostrils.
Exhale while making a buzzing sound.
Make the sound as loud as you can without exerting yourself.
Repeat for 5 minutes and then lie down in shavasana (lie on your back, relax while breathing normally).

Sahita Pranayama:

Sahita-Pranayama_activlivingcommunity

With this pranayama, you enter the state of kumbhaka (suspended breath), which improves physical and mental endurance.

Follow these steps:

In a relaxed seated position, inhale naturally but focus on your breath.
Hold your breath, but release it as soon as you feel discomfort.
Exhale naturally and hold for a moment to experience the stillness.
Do this for up to 5 minutes.

Drigha:

This three-step pranayama lets the air move in your body from the diaphragm to the abdomen and the upper chest. As the oxygen flows into your body, it nourishes your body from the inside. The mind becomes more alert, and breath control calms you. Do this pranayama by following these steps:

Sit with your back straight and your hand on your thighs.
Take a deep breath (steadily).
Feel the breath reaching your abdomen, filling up your belly and reaching your upper chest and collar bones.
Now, steadily exhale.
Repeat this for up to 5 minutes but do not over-exert yourself.

Practise these yoga pranayamas daily to keep anxiety at bay and for your holistic well-being. Encourage your family to do the same and continue exploring more breathing exercises in yoga.

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