Amazing breathing exercises for relaxation

RISHIKESH, India - March 10, 2018 - PRLog -- Amazing breathing exercises for relaxation

Many times when we go to an exercise program, doctor's clinic or when our friends try to calm us down, we have heard them saying "Take a deep breath and relax." Many of us still think that breathing is just a natural involuntary function our bodies know how to do. But this is not necessarily so. Breathing is such an unconscious act that you may not be aware of just how complex and important any breathing exercise is.

Learning how to breathe well is one of the most important lessons you will learn when you begin practicing yoga. On a basic level, breathing allows you to draw in oxygen into your body, eliminate toxins and bacteria which impeded your body's ability to function correctly. From a yogic perspective, breathing well allows you to create a greater sense of harmony, balance, and control over your mind.

The deeper you breathe the more of energy and space you create in your body and the more in touch you become with your spirit. The yoga philosophy teaches you relaxation and breathing techniques which connect with your life energy or as it is referred to as 'prana' in yoga. The three classic types of yoga breathing exercises for relaxation are as following:

1. Anuloma Viloma:

Also known as Alternate Nostril Breathing, it is done by inhaling through one nostril, holding the breath and then releasing it through the other nostril. This exercise helps to balance the right and left sides of the brain which improves both logical thinking and creativity. Some yogis also claim that it is the most effective technique for calming the mind and the nervous system.

2. Kapalabhati:

Also known as Skull Shining Breath, this exercise helps to relieve blockages in the air ways of the nasal passages and chest. This practice uses deep abdominal breathing to purify the lungs, remove toxins from the blood and lymph, improve digestion and also helps to relax the mind. It also prepares the body for meditation and increase alertness. However, it should be practiced in moderation and is not recommended in the case of high blood pressure.

3. Bhramari:

This is a breath control exercise that creates a humming sound during exhalations. The fingers and thumbs are used to close the eyes and ears, which helps one to focus on the internal sound that resembles a bumble bee. Its vibratory nature calms down the body and lengthens the breath, lowering the blood pressure and reducing stress and fatigue. This technique can be practiced by any person, including children, pregnant women and the elderly. Besides, this yoga exercise is also beneficial to meditation and deep sleep.

Although there are many types of yoga exercises for breathing, the ultimate goal of these exercises is to improve the mental, physical, spiritual and emotional state of one's health.

Besides having a focus on breathing, the regular practice of these yoga exercises has also proven to be beneficial techniques to reduce anxiety. Here are a few of the benefits of yoga exercises for anxiety conditions:

·       Yoga helps to improve sleep, which further reduces anxiety level.

·       It helps to reduce the stress hormone cortisol in the body, which is major contributor to anxiety.

·       When you practice yoga, regularly, you will experience a sort of spiritual growth which is calming and reinforcing in its own way.

·       Your endurance, flexibility and strength can be enhanced and the tension in your "anxious muscles will fade away, eliminating anxiety-producing stress on the muscles.

·       Yoga lowers the heart rate so that the subjective feeling of anxiety is lessened.

·       Unlike other form of exercises, yoga offers a unique mind-body connection facilitated by the matching of controlled breathing with various body movements. This helps to attain a feeling of internal calm and peace.

·       It helps to release internal negative energy which helps to reduce depression and its symptoms.

·       The use of controlled movements required in yoga provides you with much better self-control in all aspects of life.

·       Yoga elicits the relaxation response in the body.

Therefore, with patience and practice, you can learn how to relax, calm and energise your mind, body and soul and reduce anxiety and stress through yoga breathing techniques or exercises.

for more information: https://www.yogateacherstrainingrishikesh.com/pranayam