🧘 Breathing For Balance

In Today's Email:

• Breathing Techniques: How to feel calm, what is Dirga Pranayama, and more...

• Yogi Of the week: And the winner is...

• Breathing Flow For Happiness

Picture of The Day

Why Breathing is necessary

It is not without reason that the phenomenon is referred to as "The Breath of Life." In addition to supplying the body with the fuel it needs to function, breathing can also influence how we feel, from both a physiological and psychological aspect.

Different states of mind can further affect breathing differently. For example, if you're feeling anxious or stressed out, your breath will become shallow and rapid. It manifests high in the chest and puts the body in fight-or-flight mode, increasing your heart rate, and leading to stress. If you're in this state for too long, it can lead to a host of physical health problems as well as mental health issues. It is hence important to breathe and let go.

Breathing Techniques to feel calm and balanced

Breathing techniques tame the negative feelings instead of letting them control you. When you take a deep breath in, your lungs expand and your abdomen grows larger. When you exhale, your abdomen contracts, and your lungs deflate. The process of filling and emptying the lungs sends chemical signals throughout the body that help keep everything in balance. Breathing techniques are thus, exercises that we can perform consciously in order to influence this process for ourselves.

Dirga Pranayama

Also known as three-Part Breath, Dirga pranayama is often the first breathing practice taught to new yoga practitioners. It teaches you to breathe totally and deeply. The abdominal, diaphragm, and chest are the "three areas." The lungs and chest are entirely filled during a Three-Part Breath. First, fill your lungs entirely with air as if inhaling into your abdomen, ribcage, and upper chest. Then exhaustively exhale, reversing the flow, and repeat. Frequent practice of Three-Part Breath is said to be so soothing that it substantially reduces anxiety and stress levels.

Yogic Breath

Yogic breath involves diaphragm contraction, abdominal expansion, deep inhalation, and exhalation. "Belly breathing" engages the diaphragm, stomach, and abdominal muscles. Sit with your back straight and one hand on your upper chest and the other on the stomach. Inhale slowly through your nose as it fills up your stomach and lifts your hand. Exhale as it causes your stomach to compress, dropping your hand. This procedure minimizes oxygen intake and strengthens your diaphragm.

Sama Vritti Pranayama

Sama Vritti Pranayama is among the best breathing exercises to latch on for a serene and tranquil mind. The technique’s main objective is to lessen distractions and mental chatter. Form a ‘square’ pattern with your breath by carrying identical steps as you inhale for 4 seconds, holding your breath for 4 more seconds before exhaling and holding again for 4 seconds, equally.

The connection between yoga and breathing

Conscious breathing is the foundation of yoga as it allows us to connect with our inherent subtle energy. We can travel to different states of consciousness by using the breath. When you focus on each component of the breathing process, you begin to live in the present; let go of the past and the future, and become centered on the moment of the breath. Breathing during yoga is thus responsible for both energy transfer and bodily relaxation. Yoga poses coupled with a breathing flow form an effective instrument for an abundant life. Taking deep breaths allows us to access our transforming power while we hold a yoga pose. It displays the revitalizing and refining effects of yoga on the mind and body and assists us in locating our acceptance of oneness.

💡 TIP OF THE DAY!

Try bedtime breathing the next time you have a hard time falling asleep. Begin as you inhale and tense your muscles such as your fist, legs, as well as face. Exhale as you slowly loosen up. Repeat till you feel the tension releasing and feel more at ease.

Yogi Of The Week

The Winner: This week’s winner is Terri Vacek. Here is what she wrote to us a few weeks back. Thank you for your support and kind words Terri. We really do appreciate it.

If you are reading this Terri, then we have already sent you an email. If you can’t find it please reply to this email.

If you don’t know: In order to reward our wonderful community, we started doing a weekly giveaway every Wednesday to our most engaged readers.

And when we say reward… we really mean it!

We will be sending out one free chakra black lava stone bracelet and one free chakra necklace, every Wednesday to one lucky winner (no matter where you are located in the world).

How You Can Win: 

1. The more you read our newsletters the higher chance you have of winning. Make sure you save our newsletter in your primary inbox to read every issue we release.

2. Send us comments and feedback and you instantly get on our rewards list.

3. Generally the more you engage with us the higher chance you have of winning.

Thank you to all for your support and now it’s time to get rewarded!

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🧐 DID YOU KNOW?

We predominantly breathe through the right or the left nostril. To identify which nostril is more active, wet your thumb and hold it against either nostril and observe the breathing. If you notice the right nostril is more smooth and more open, it is said that we’re more active and stimulated. While the dominance of the left indicates we're comfortable and at peace. This may change every 20 minutes.

Breathing Flow for Happiness

This breathing sequence will make you more responsive to happiness. It adheres to a natural transformation of your thoughts and actions. For each breath, imagine that you are breathing in the energy of the earth. As you exhale, imagine releasing any tension or stress that may be building up within you.

Before you begin- Before you start this breathing flow, take a moment to ground yourself in the present moment. Find a comfortable environment and observe your regular breathing. When you are conscious of your breathing and in tune with your senses, the effects of the flow are enhanced.

Bhramari pranayama breathing

Brahmari or the humming breath is a powerful breathing technique to help feel calm and cheerful. To begin, start by sitting in a comfortable position with your back straight, eyes closed, and index fingers in your ears. Inhale deeply through your nose, and notice how it engulfs your abdomen. Following this, exhale slowly while making a sound similar to that of a bee by humming. Focus on the Ajna chakra and embrace the sound.

Nadi Shodhana

Follow this up with Nadi Shodhana. This breathing technique is believed to balance the body's energy flow through the Nadis, i.e, the energy channels in your body. It helps you to balance the left and right sides of your brain, which can help you become more focused and relaxed. Rest your left hand on your lap as you use your right hand to close the right nostril by covering it with your thumb and inhale through the left nostril for one full breath. With your ring finger, now close the left nostril by pressing it and exhale through the right nostril. Alternate between both nostrils for 10 cycles.

Ujjayi breathing

Ujjayi is often compared to the sound of ocean waves. Practicing Ujjayi breathing will help you to bring your mind back to the present moment, which can help you stay grounded. Begin as you inhale slowly through your nose. Then, as you exhale, push the breath out through your nose while contracting your glottis (the part of your throat that closes when you swallow). Observe the sound of waves as you submerge yourself into the natural sound.

Sitali Pranayama

The cooling breath, also known as the Sitali pranayama, is a breathing exercise that can help you find tranquility even in times of distress. To begin, curl your tongue and inhale deeply through the passage made by your curled tongue until your lungs are full. Now, exhale slowly through the nostril.

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