The purpose of the pranayama pratice in yoga is to help you to breathe properly.
For individuals who take up yoga classes, I am sure that one of the first things that you learned, was how to breathe yogically. The capacity of our breathing- without doubt- affect us in more ways than we can imagine. There are many ways of breathing in yoga, some are simple techniques, and others very complicated. Personally, I think it would be always wise to learn breathing techniques from a person who is physically present, rather than from a book or any other means. But this exercise that I am about to teach you, is one of the safest of all. It is very safe because, it was the way that you used to breathe- before you forgot.
I would like you to sit down with your spine straight, elongate the base of your spine to be in vertical form with the crown of your head, (This exercise will not be effective when practiced on a bed- mattress, nor on a cushion- couch). Make sure that the base of your spine is on a surface that is not too yielding. A wooden floor or a piece of wooden slate on a concrete floor (covered, if preferred) would be most ideal.
- To begin, place the palms of your left hand slightly on your lower abdomen- without pressing it; and place the right palm above; in the middle of the chest area- around the breast bone. Take a very deep breath (diaphragmatically)- ensuring that you fill up your lungs- steadily and without any force. Aim to fill the lower abdomen area first, then gradually shift to the upper area of the chest.
- After that, exhale completely, but slowly (do not attempt to hold the breath under any circumstance- even if it seems easy to hold). As you exhale, you will experience that your upper body, from the chest area (tilts forward and downward slightly) and when you inhale, it goes back to an upright position- more or less.
- Repeat this exercise for as long as you can comfortably manage. (Counting an inhalation and an exhalation together as one round), attempt to do 15 rounds- without administering any pressure from both palms, you will find that they both �rise and fall� as you inhale and exhale. If done properly, your breathing system will be familiarized within a very short time (about 15 days- if practiced daily) Needless to mention- at that point- you will not need to use your palms to guide you.
- After you have finished, close your eyes and lie down for about 20 minutes. Empty your mind completely and allow the air to breathe your body- by ensuring that you do not move your spine.
- If you have difficulties in the above exercise. I would suggest that you take a look at a newly born baby- and observe how they breathe diaphramatically, and try to emulate them.
Despite all that I have said about this exercise, I trust that if you have any breathing difficulties or expect to have difficulties with the above, you will seek medical advice before you consider practicing it.
© Copyright Raymond Ribeiro