Stress management and relaxation are just two of the benefits you will find with yoga as it bleeds over into daily life. Even when I am not actively practicing yoga, I use yoga breathing to relax during my day. This is to be expected since deep breathing relaxation methods are used to manage stress.
The Inhalation
Breathing through the nose is recommended in yoga. You want to expand your chest versus your belly to breathe. It is impossible to do belly breathing while simultaneously engaging your core. The breath is synchronized with the movements in vinyasa yoga. It is common to instinctively hold your breath when you are doing a harder pose. When difficulties arise in life, it is as important as in yoga to allow your breath to continue freely.
The Exhalation
You want to breathe out through the nose as well, and it is a forceful exhalation that produces a whooshing sound. A new yogini must find the heavy breathing in class a bit odd. This is called ouija breathing, which warms the body and improves oxygen usage.
This breath helps push more air out of the lungs. This really allows a dramatic release of tension. It feels a bit like ‘blowing off steam’, and it is an amazing breathing relaxation technique.
Often in class we will do cleansing breaths. They are exhaled through the mouth, often accompanied by a sighing sound. These sighs are timed right after more intense exertions in the practice. Translation: when feeling stressed or after finishing a major task, try using a deep sigh to let go and relax.
It is natural for me to use deep breathing relaxation methods throughout my day without even realizing it. Yoga has helped to train my automatic behavior. I find myself taking deeper breaths as needed without consciously initiating them. I also catch myself when I am holding my breath, and redirect myself to some deep breathing.
Instructors often say a single, conscious breath constitutes a yoga practice. It is nice to experience stress management from yoga not only in class, but crossing over into the real world. Relaxation with yoga breathing will become automatic for you after practicing a while. Yoga: the only breathing relaxation technique you’ll ever need.
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