Stress Management with Yoga Breathing
Posted by
patrick
The benefits of stress management and relaxation are easy to see with your yoga practice. I find these benefits even when I'm not on the mat--I can access deep relaxation with yoga breathing in my regular daily life. It is common to use deep breathing relaxation techniques to combat stress, and yoga does this naturally.
The In Breath
In yoga, you want to breathe in through the nose. You should avoid belly breathing and rather expand your chest to open your lungs. When you are engaging your core, it is impossible to belly breathe. In vinyasa yoga the breath moves with the poses. When a pose is difficult, you will often find you hold your breath. As in life, the difficult times require you to keep breathing when the instinct is the opposite.
The Out Breath
In yoga you learn to breathe out audibly through the nose (not through the mouth). A newcomer to yoga must think it is very strange that everyone is breathing so heavy. This forceful exhalation is called ouija breathing, and it helps to warm the body and increase oxygen consumption.
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.
Cleansing breaths are common during yoga practice. There is a sighing sound created while exhaling through the mouth. Often these sighs are cued just after more difficult poses. This translates well to life in that it is best to really sigh to let go when experiencing something difficult.
In my daily life, I will automatically find myself practicing deep breathing relaxation. I find my yoga practice has created this automatic response for me. Without consciously trying, I will begin taking deeper breaths when I need it most. Occasionally I catch myself holding my breath when tense, and this gives me the opportunity to switch to deeper 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.
The In Breath
In yoga, you want to breathe in through the nose. You should avoid belly breathing and rather expand your chest to open your lungs. When you are engaging your core, it is impossible to belly breathe. In vinyasa yoga the breath moves with the poses. When a pose is difficult, you will often find you hold your breath. As in life, the difficult times require you to keep breathing when the instinct is the opposite.
The Out Breath
In yoga you learn to breathe out audibly through the nose (not through the mouth). A newcomer to yoga must think it is very strange that everyone is breathing so heavy. This forceful exhalation is called ouija breathing, and it helps to warm the body and increase oxygen consumption.
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.
Cleansing breaths are common during yoga practice. There is a sighing sound created while exhaling through the mouth. Often these sighs are cued just after more difficult poses. This translates well to life in that it is best to really sigh to let go when experiencing something difficult.
In my daily life, I will automatically find myself practicing deep breathing relaxation. I find my yoga practice has created this automatic response for me. Without consciously trying, I will begin taking deeper breaths when I need it most. Occasionally I catch myself holding my breath when tense, and this gives me the opportunity to switch to deeper 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.
About the Author:
Jennifer Pereira, RD, LD, CSCS is a dietitian and strength and conditioning specialist, and started practicing yoga 16 years ago. If you would like to learn more about yoga for relaxation or the benefits of yoga, you can visit her site.
Posts
Post a Comment