Everyone basically knows breathing. It’s something that the body usually does without us giving it much thought. It therefore seems strange to come to a yoga class and be told to breathe, not once, not twice, but perhaps dozens of times in one hour. In other physical activities we might be reminded from time to time, but no activity, except perhaps Pilates, requires such attention to the breath. Here are some of the top 5 reasons that your instructor is telling you to breathe – in order of appearance in your yoga class:
1. Breathe to focus. Most yoga classes start with a meditative segment in either a standing, seated or supine position. The purpose of this time is to take the mind off of the past or future and to be in the present. Nothing aids this process more than listening to the sound of our own breathing.
2. Breathe to warm up the body. Many of your yoga classes will go right into one breath, one movement sequences. For example: the Sun Salutations have you coming up on inhales and down on exhales. Along with keeping step one in play (breathing to focus) you’re now directly linking physical movement to each inhale and exhale, which aids the body in its warm-up.
3. Breathe to maintain. During strength-building poses like Warrior or Triangle, steady breathing is also used to work our way through challenges. Breathing keeps our minds in the right disposition to handle the hard work.
4. Breathe to cool down. This one comes naturally to us. Just like coming out of any strenuous activity, we’re inclined to take a few deep breaths to settle the body.
5. Breathe to relax. Most people look forward to as much relaxation at the end of a yoga practice as the instructor can offer. In step one we are breathing to get into the moment; in this one, it’s almost as if we’re breathing to let go of that, too.
There is not enough room in this article alone to add all of the other benefits of concentrated breathing. In intermediate and advanced classes you will learn a multitude of breathing techniques for various purposes. Look for upcoming articles about the Breath of Fire and Alternate Nostril Breathing.
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