Yoga, being one of the most effective self help approaches to life and living, invites me to help ensure that it is being integrated with maximum wisdom related to breathing. This page is about supporting and educating the Yoga community in its quest for superior knowledge and effectiveness about proper breathing. It is our responsibility to alert everyone about this as there are probably millions of students and teachers with an unclear or distorted idea of healthy breathing.
Nowadays, you can take weekend courses and call yourself a teacher. Many teachers are then first to defend their breathing development proficiency but alas, last to prove it. One needs to experience good breathing to teach it.
From a Breathing Times subscriber:
Breath is the unifying principal of the three systems - mechanics, metabolism and mentality. It is the psychopharmacological link between conscious and unconscious states. Each of the three mechanical aspects of breath has specific neurotransmission function. Any technique(s) that emphasize(s) one aspect of the mechanism exclusively will shift neurometabolism accordingly. Yoga practices are designed for this purpose, stimulating a specific aspect or relationship of aspects. I realize that contemporary yogis don 't always explain it this way,and I think that also leads to misuse and abuse. Right knowledge is yoga or union. That union is from bringing together all aspects, and applying iscernment.
- Jim Nettles
A few words from Else
The reality, however, is far from this perception. Believe it or not, anyone who has the ability to breathe on their own can practice yoga.
Of the many techniques people use to reduce stress, yoga is among one of the more popular. Although some may believe that effects of yoga are merely physical, there is research that suggests that yoga has direct impacts on one’s mental state. According to Forbes, in addition to the benefits on the heart and blood flow, yoga helps release dopamine and gaba and serotonin (Walton, 2012). All of these are known to create feeling of happiness in a person (K. W. Brown, personal communication, Sept. 7). For this lab, I decided I would try yoga for myself to test the results.
Yoga is a comprehensive system of mind/body techniques that is thousands of years old. Its techniques are designed to improve physical and mental health and well being, and include such practices as physical postures and stretching, breathing exercises (pranayama), focused concentration, meditation, visualization, and chanting (mantra) (Desikachar, 1999; van der Kolk, 2014).
For many people with hectic, stressful lives, relaxation means zoning out in front of the TV at the end of the day or getting some extra sleep at the end of the weekend, but for a certain group of people relaxing does not include this. These people are called yogis; those who achieve relaxation through the art of meditation, breathing, stretching, and finding inner peace. In today’s fast paced society it is hard to find a way to fully relax because people are constantly being forced to push their minds and bodies to the limit, which can result in high levels of stress. Rather than fighting against life’s hardships, people who practice yoga value deep relaxation in order to be free of stress and live each day in peace and harmony
Western medicine has found out that just as the yogis have known for a long time, breathing is closely related to autonomic nervous system and a person's mind. Thus, some hospitals now teach people deep breathing.
Yoga exercises included slow deep breathing and exhaling via one nostril slowly and breath holding (Pranayama). Rapid abdominal contractions to forcefully exhale air out of lungs was also included which is termed Kapalabhati. Meditation was also part of the yoga sessions at the end. The SGRQ and the spirometry were completed before and at the end of the study. The SGRQ that assessed the quality of life evaluated three major factors: (1) symptoms associated with respiratory effects in terms of frequency and severity, (2) activities that cause breathlessness or limitations. and (3) impacts of disease on general health status affecting social and psychological impedances resulting from airway diseases. Based on the study, the average age of those who completed the study was 71 and all the participants were male. Results showed positive correlation with yoga and significant improvement lung function test values. In addition, QOL assessed by SGRQ including the three main components were also positively corelated with the practice of
The art of doing yoga we know today originated 5000 years ago in India. The infinite cognitive, physiological, and neurological benefits of yoga have been found and proven effective in regaining energy, balance, and health. Practicing this ancient body art, even just for few short minutes, will enable an individual to regain balance and physical energy. Regular practice of yoga can bring improvement in health, in mind and body, increased energy, well-being, and
Crystal Boschert began her exploration with yoga 8 years ago. Within no time she fell in love with yoga, which led her wanting to learn more so, she could deepen her practice and to share her passion of yoga and its many benefits with other’s along with helping others to adventure into a more holistic way of living. In 2014, she registered with The National Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200) and began teaching after completing her first teacher training at Jane’s House of Well-Being in St. Charles, Missouri. She was trained to teach Hatha yoga, using the Dynamic Yoga Method (DYM), under Robin Buck, Sarah Kadel, Matthew and Holly Krepps, and other masterful teacher’s.
It is not surprising to those of us who are long time yoga practitioners that the popularity of this profound spiritual science is now exploding on a world wide scale. Unfortunately though some of the authenticity and truths about yoga are being lost and some myths are creeping in with regard to what yoga is and how it is to be practiced. In this article I will look to clear up what I find to be the top 5 myths about yoga.
Almost fitness and gym center offers a class in yoga, this workout performs a series of flexibility and strenght- building poses. Yoga is more than just an exercise, it is also a spiritual discipline with a long history. It is originated in India and spread in western world as an exercise practice that links to our mind, body and breath. But do you aware of the realness and rawness on the art of yoga? Many yogis doesn't know about this, they just do it for the sake of healthy living. It is important for us to have knowledge in the art of yoga to embrace and embodied the teaching and doing the art of
So I begin to think what if yogi can see their breathing in an relaxing way during practicing. On the one hand, they can see their breathing’s smoothness, depth and speeds; on the other hand, breathing visualization can attract practitioners attention subtlety and helping relax
This makes it powerful, powerful enough to affect our relationships, facilitate our health, and calm our emotions. But, its power can fall by the waste side if we aren't consciously aware of its capacity through conscious breathing.
Yoga: an archaic esoteric practice that has been shrouded in a mysterious umbrage for many ages. Until recently, yoga has defined as “an ancient discipline designed to bring balance and health to the physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions of an individual” (Ross 3). However, in today's age—professional athletes, strongmen, runners, and bodybuilders define yoga as a performance booster as they incorporate its teachings into their training regimens.
Kundalini Yoga- This form of yoga was created to energize the body and calm the mind through movement. The chanting of various mantras, and breathing. The goal is to release the energy that kundalini which is stored at the base of the spine.
A type of yoga that focuses primarily on the breath is viniyoga; which also uses chanting, pranayama, and asana techniques. Asana is a relaxing type of yoga that includes many resting poses and pranayama are breathing exercises. Ashtanga is a fast paced yoga and the inspiration for many power yoga classes you can find at the gym. Bikram is hot yoga, which is generally practiced in a room that is generally heated to over 100 degrees (McCall 106-113). Kripalu is different from other forms of yoga because it places importance on emotions, physical sensations, and thoughts that arise during practice. The way we think and react during practice is an example of the way we respond to people and act out in our everyday life ("Kripalu" 4-5). Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy is a practice where the instructor moves your body into a number of positions while you remain passive. There are many other types of yoga as well including; kundalini, anusara, triyoga, savasana, tantra, and gym yoga (McCall 110-113).