Breathing
Quick, shallow, breathing is associated with tension, day to day concerns and other stressors. When you are in a relaxed and calm state you may notice a slow respiratory process. Shallow breathing deprives your body of a balanced exchange of oxygen on the in-breath and toxins on the out-going breath. As a result, insufficient oxygen may fail to maintain adequate amounts of energy in your body to enable your circulatory, digestive and nervous systems to function to an optimum.
The breath is recognised in yoga as a rhythm connecting you with a unity that pervades the whole universe and provides a vital link between your own body and mind. In common with other Eastern traditions, the breath is recognised as carrying subtle energy, or prana, which is integral to the harmonious balance of health. Correct breathing is regarded as essential to health in yoga.
As respiration is usually an involuntary process care is taken to work with your breath in a natural way, without tension. You are taught over weeks or months to become aware of abdominal, middle and upper chest breathing. Straightforward explanations of the physiological function of the diaphragm and lungs provide an understanding of the respiratory process and the benefits of working with it. Simple movements are integrated into the learning experience which encourage the full use of abdomen and chest, helping to further relax the breathing process. From an early stage slower, deeper breaths are incorporated into many yoga movements maximising the beneficial effects of both the movement and the breath.
The breath is recognised in yoga as a rhythm connecting you with a unity that pervades the whole universe and provides a vital link between your own body and mind. In common with other Eastern traditions, the breath is recognised as carrying subtle energy, or prana, which is integral to the harmonious balance of health. Correct breathing is regarded as essential to health in yoga.
As respiration is usually an involuntary process care is taken to work with your breath in a natural way, without tension. You are taught over weeks or months to become aware of abdominal, middle and upper chest breathing. Straightforward explanations of the physiological function of the diaphragm and lungs provide an understanding of the respiratory process and the benefits of working with it. Simple movements are integrated into the learning experience which encourage the full use of abdomen and chest, helping to further relax the breathing process. From an early stage slower, deeper breaths are incorporated into many yoga movements maximising the beneficial effects of both the movement and the breath.
