Friday, August 13, 2010

Breathing: The Essence Of Yoga

By Beth Shaw

Yoga is a 6000-year-old form of physical exercise that not just disciplines our bodies but conditions the mind as well.

The practice of yoga is largely thought of as just the asanas (postures and exercises), yet breathing is actually in the centre of yoga. Some have mentioned "if you can breathe, then you can do yoga". Using breathing strategies to quiet your mind is among the primary objectives of yoga.

By frequently finding the time for yoga, you may become very attentive to your breathing. You may teach yourself to control your breath, which will help you become calm and calm. Also, the form of your asanas will improve the more you focus on your breathing.

It is in our character to allow our thoughts drift into issues of the future and the past. However our bodies are only in existence in the present. Through the performance of yoga, you can learn the way to focus your mind on your body and release your entire anxieties, all through proper breathing.

Yoga can help prevent anxiety and disease allowing you do this - releasing of these dangerous, stressful thoughts, even for a short time, restores your body and mind to a healthy balanced condition. Concentrating on the present is what leads to these advantages.

Yoga shows the concept of awareness breathing while performing poses - this fosters awareness of your technique and better psychological alertness. By drawing the mind into the moment and forgetting all else, you will pull together the huge benefits that yoga has to offer.

This breathing exercise is a very simple method of practicing yoga that will help to let go of stress and balance your thoughts.

* Lie or sit comfortably and notice your normal state of breathing.

* Still aware of your breath, breathe in and out four counts each repeatedly.

* Now, improve your breathing and exhalations to five counts each.

* Then boost the count to six for each inhalation and exhalation. Become aware of your body - ensure that it is comfortable.

* Continue by doing this until your inhalations and exhalations reach 9 counts. If this is causing you any distress, drop the count back to more relaxed number for you.

* Keep concentrating on your body and be aware of any pressure. Make a conscious effort to wind down any areas of your body that are tense.

* Whatever your last number of breaths is, continue breathing with long breaths for a few rounds, then drop the counting and breathe normally for 10 rounds.

What you should find out from this exercise, as well as with many of yoga's other breathing exercises, is to be able to rest your mind and to still your thoughts so that you are present in your body. Over time, you'll eventually gain mastery on your head breath so that you will be able to call on your breath to still your brain in times of tension and pressure.

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