Back to Basics of Breath

Let's get Back to Basics of Breath. The most beneficial and under utilized tools for a yoga practice is Pranayama, breath control. It is one of Patanjail's (ancient seer) 8 Limbed Path to Yoga. 

Our Fusion Mantra is Breathe. Move. Connect. as a reminder that breath must lead the movement, not the other way around. I often remind students, "without breath, there is no life. It's the first thing we do in this life and will be our last when departing". It moves vital life force energy, prana in and around our bodies. Yama means to control. Breath helps us focus, but is calming for the mind. It purifies and is a powerful detox for our mind and body.

My summary of basics for a solid pranayama practice whether in yoga or in your daily routines:

• Breathe through your Nose. It's more calming, warms, humidifies and filters particles of air, and allows you to smell potentially toxic air as a warning. Studies also show nasal breathing produces Nitric/Nitrogen Oxide, a molecule that helps dilate your vessels, minimize blood clot formation, boost immunities, and enhance brain health. Unless you need to release heat or air quickly, and mouth breathing can be dehydrating and cause dry mouth and more.

• Inhale Fully, Exhale Fully. Completely fill up your lungs with oxygenated air before exhaling. Exhale fully to empty toxins and carbon dioxide, exchanging gases and making room for a maximum of fresh oxygenated air.

• Horizontal, Diaphragmatic Breaths are more active and efficient than vertical. Belly breaths allow the lungs to inflate by contracting the diaphragm as it moves the muscle downward, lungs expand. Exhales relax the diaphragm and it expands moving upward as you draw your naval inward, then lungs deflate and empty. There's a natural pressurization that occurs in the lungs. It's also a great massage to your internal organs the more active the breaths.

• Inhale when expanding and opening the physical body when moving. In yoga, we inhale to lengthen, lift a limb or the whole body, and for most back bends as we open the chest cavity.

• Exhale when contracting to make more room and compact the body. We exhale when we bend forward and for twists as in rotating the spine. We expand space in our belly with an exhale. We also breathe out when we need to engage our core muscles.

Unless you have contraindications to nasal or deep breathing, these Basics of Breath will be the game changers you seek in mindful movements and even meditation. Go Pranayama!

Breathing life into our lives,

Gina

Fusion Owner, Registered Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master Teacher, R.N.

Place one hand on the belly, and one hand on the chest to practice horizontal breathing, feeling just the belly move out and in.

BREATHE. MOVE. CONNECT.