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Pranayama & Yogic Breathing

Pranayama or yogic breathing is the science of breath control; all yoga exercises begin and end with the proper breathing technique. Pranayama is one of the five principles of yoga and it helps to bring more oxygen to the brain and blood, it helps to purify the body.

Pranayama and Yogic Breathing

Most of the pranayama exercises consist of sitting down on the floor or in a chair. It requires the spine, neck and head to be straight. Each exercise must be taken slowly and done with supervision at the beginning stages. Prana is the life force or the vital energy behind all yoga movements. The exercises consist of the cleansing breath, this helps to cleanse the capillary vessels in the body; the cooling breath, that helps to purify the blood; the bellows breath which helps with respiration; the victorious breath which helps with a deep relaxation; and the nostril breathing exercises where the breath is taken in through one nostril and released through the other nostril.

Yoga breathing techniques must be done with caution and supervision; these techniques must be done correctly and with safety in mind at all times, or, according to healthcaretipsblog.net they might have adverse effects. The victorious movement: sit erect, inhale abdominal area wall out, exhale in, mind clear and observe the breathing. The cleansing movement: sit erect, exhale thru nostrils and contract abdomen, release quickly and inhale again effortlessly, then slowly increase to about 100 strokes per minute. The bellows movement: place left hand on left knee, close right nostril with right thumb, exhale thru left nostril quickly, inhale forcefully then switch nostrils and repeat increasing the speed. The cooling movement: palms on the knees, erect position, fold up tongue, suck in air through opening fill up lungs, then close the mouth. Hold your breath then exhale thru the nose, and repeat several times. These are just a few of the Pranayama exercises that must be mastered before moving on.

Benefits of Yogic Breathing

Pranayama and yogic breathing teaches the student how to breathe properly. It increases lung capacity, and reduces toxins in the body as well as aiding in digestion. It also helps to develop concentration and it reduces stress on a large scale. Yogic breathing helps to increase mental capacity and physical body strength. It leads an individual on a journey that is filled with freedom, better health and an expansion of personal spirit. Yoga begins and ends with the proper breathing technique, because improper breathing can undo any positive effects that these movements have to offer and safety as well as proper teaching is essential in Pranayama breathing. Everyone from beginners to the advanced must learn the proper breathing technique before any other movements can be done properly, and the benefits are endless.