Yoga and Breathing
Breath is our life force, our connection between the physical and spiritual. The conscious use of the breath, or pranayama, separates yoga from other forms of exercise. Working with the breath will ease you into an asana, and certain types of breathing are said to transmute the creative energies. All this is explored in the links below.
Hatha Yoga Breathing
It only makes sense that a trumpeter would know something about breathing! Bandleader Rich Szabo travels from the diaphragm to the collarbone in a thorough discussion of full body breathing. Separating each section of your lungs raises awareness of the full breathing process.
It only makes sense that a trumpeter would know something about breathing! Bandleader Rich Szabo travels from the diaphragm to the collarbone in a thorough discussion of full body breathing. Separating each section of your lungs raises awareness of the full breathing process.
The Importance of Breathing
Before getting into specific forms of yoga breathing, it is important to understand, from a physical point of view, exactly what breathing does for us. Consider this site Oxygen 101.
Before getting into specific forms of yoga breathing, it is important to understand, from a physical point of view, exactly what breathing does for us. Consider this site Oxygen 101.
Yoga - Pranayama
This is a very practical site, and its emphasis is to help the reader learn to breathe naturally. It's a good instructional page, which teaches how to work the lungs.
This is a very practical site, and its emphasis is to help the reader learn to breathe naturally. It's a good instructional page, which teaches how to work the lungs.
Taoist Relaxation Yoga
Warning - this technique is far more difficult than it seems! Who would ever guess that it would take so much patience and fortitude to "listen to your breathing"?
Warning - this technique is far more difficult than it seems! Who would ever guess that it would take so much patience and fortitude to "listen to your breathing"?
Kundalini Yoga - Pranayama
These pranayama techniques are geared towards beginning Kundalini Yoga practitioners, but they will benefit anyone.
These pranayama techniques are geared towards beginning Kundalini Yoga practitioners, but they will benefit anyone.
Basic Yoga Breathing Control
While this page may claim to be basic, it is also very detailed. It discusses pranayama from a Tantric Yoga point of view, and gives a lot of information on blending breathing with Tantric practices.
While this page may claim to be basic, it is also very detailed. It discusses pranayama from a Tantric Yoga point of view, and gives a lot of information on blending breathing with Tantric practices.
Ujjayi
This page is dedicated to one of yoga's most popular breathing techniques.
This page is dedicated to one of yoga's most popular breathing techniques.
Yoga Everywhere
This site concentrates on conscious breathing. The first two techniques they give are very effective meditation tools.
This site concentrates on conscious breathing. The first two techniques they give are very effective meditation tools.
Pranayama
Proper yogic breathing techniques
Proper yogic breathing techniques
Playing the Edge
Eric Shifman discusses the role of breathing in practicing yoga. The idea is to ease into asanas not create pain.
Eric Shifman discusses the role of breathing in practicing yoga. The idea is to ease into asanas not create pain.
Pranayama
Here is Anuloma Viloma or alternative nostril breathing technique. It's an excellent practice, but just take it slowly.
Here is Anuloma Viloma or alternative nostril breathing technique. It's an excellent practice, but just take it slowly.
Pranayama
Vasanthi Bhat gives instructions for three preliminary practices, simple, alternative nostril, and complete breath.
Vasanthi Bhat gives instructions for three preliminary practices, simple, alternative nostril, and complete breath.
Pranayama – Breathing
An incredibly comprehensive and organized presentation. It's better than good, it the best on the net.
An incredibly comprehensive and organized presentation. It's better than good, it the best on the net.
The Wind Through the Instrument
Another breathing practice as taught by Eric Shifman. It integrates the breath with your yogic movement.
Another breathing practice as taught by Eric Shifman. It integrates the breath with your yogic movement.
Varieties of Pranayama
Here is some traditional information. Normally one has a teacher before they begin any advanced practices.
Here is some traditional information. Normally one has a teacher before they begin any advanced practices.