Pranayama – Rekindling the Art of Breathing

When your breathing is not good, nothing is good.  When breathing is not happening properly, nothing is happening properly. Breathing is so crucial for a controlled body and mind. If there is one important piece of advice that I would choose to give to everyone, it would be to learn how to breathe properly.

Pranayama is a unique breathing practice that can balance the body and influence psychological and stress-related disorders. Incorporating a daily practice of pranayama in your life can work wonders. Learning how to breathe efficiently and properly is not only a relaxation practice, but it can also be used as a meditative practice.

Pranayama is a core feature of yoga. I myself had no idea pranayama was such an important thing, until my holistic health coach educated me on the different types of breathwork. I was genuinely amazed at the impact it had on me after this. Simply focusing on the breathing, I felt a powerful calming effect throughout my body and mind. 

Regardless of the type of pranayama breathing technique you practice, there are always three main stages – inhalation through the nostrils, retention of breath, and exhalation of breath. 

One pranayama which I am going to talk about and I personally do every day is Anulom Vilom which is a popular breathing exercise associated with traditional yoga that is used to calm the mind and body. This type of pranayama is done through deep breath inhalation and exhalation while alternating between the right and left nostril with the help of our fingers. Anulom Vilom has several benefits:

• Stress reduction
• Promotes a healthy heart
• Maintains blood pressure
• Improves digestion
• Strengthens the lungs
• Improves blood circulation

It is advisable that the best time to practice Pranayama is early in the morning, especially on an empty stomach. It is ideal to perform it in a well-ventilated room or outdoors so that you have plenty of fresh air.

Apart from anulom vilom, there are several other types of Pranayama as well. It is advisable to consult a holistic health coach or a yoga professional to find out which ones are suitable for you.

—-

Farah Hai is a Holistic Health Health Coach at Rachna Restores and you can find more details about her HERE. For more such articles and content on health & wellness, don’t forget to follow us!