Yoga Breathing & Benefits for Beginners
Pranayama is the practice of yogic breathing. It is the fourth limb in the eight limbs of classical yoga and teaches that the proper use of the breath powers our life force energy (prana) throughout the body. As a set of powerful breathing techniques, pranayama can help us restore the connection to our true inner selves. Here are a few benefits to yogic breathing:
Strengthens the mind-body connection
Promotes a feeling of peace and relaxation
Increases mindfulness
Strengthens intuition
Helps to strengthen the lungs
Helps release tension from the mind and body
Increases focus and clarity
Creates space in the body for energy to flow more freely
Can help to lower blood pressure
It is a completely natural healing modality
There is no financial cost to practice
For a beginner-friendly breathing exercise, try the Natural Breath:
Sit in a quiet place where you’ll have limited disruptions. Set a timer for 5 minutes.
Close your eyes and just observe your natural breath without trying to change it. Notice if your breath is fast-paced or slow. Is it shallow or deep? Just observe and take note.
Notice if any physical sensations are present. Perhaps there’s a specific place in the body where you feel tension. Slowly scan the body and observe what comes up. See if you can breathe into the spaces that need some extra love.
You may notice your mind start to wander off. If so, just gently bring your awareness back to your breath. It is normal and natural for your thoughts to wander.
Over time you’ll notice you can practice this for longer periods of time. Once you feel comfortable you can start exploring other types of pranayama. Experiment and see which breathing techniques feel best in your body. Stay consistent, commit to it and watch as the positive effects of this practice take shape in your life.
Go ahead and try it out! Make it a daily habit and see how you feel after 7 days. I would love to know how it goes for you.
Namaste!
Erin