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“Inhale and Exhale” . When you’re upset, anxious, irritated, or frustrated, this is the easiest solution you may reach for.  Breathing can always make you feel more composed and relaxed.  People usually don’t pay much attention to breathing because it just happens. But, no, there is a right and wrong way to breathe. I know it’s as surprising to me as it is to you. But don’t worry, we’ll now go over the parts where we grasp why deep breathing is so vital for the body and mind, as well as the role it plays in yoga.

Let’s go back a little into the history where it was 1500 BC. where Rig veda was introduced in Sanskrit texts. These vedas are claimed to contain a detailed description of the importance of controlling your breath and, as a result, how it controls your body and mind. While learning about yoga, you will realise that it is more than simply a practice or a workout; it is therapy. According to these ancient writings, with the correct yoga practice, you can get into your subconscious mind and dive into reality.

It in fact makes you ask yourself “who are you?” It may sound crazy but knowing your soul better, feeling that your soul and your body are different was one of the reasons yoga originated. Thus it connects us to our topic of how the control of breath impacts our physical and mental health.

1. WHAT IS PRANAYAMA?

The detailed explanation is that ‘Prana’ means breath, respiration, life, vitality, wind, energy or strength. It is usually used to indicate vital, essential or active breaths. ‘Ayama’ means length, expansion, stretching or restraint. So when you put it all together. ‘Pranayama’ means extension of breath and its control.

Pranayama is considered as the first stage of yoga. When you play cricket, you focus on the field, your position, and your next move all at the same time. As with Pranayama, you practice focusing on your body’s rhythm, breath, and posture. It is also regarded as the initial step in the practice of meditation and mindfulness. How? When you try to manage and balance your breath with ease, your body is chanting only one mantra: inhale and exhale. When you concentrate only on your prana or breath as it enters and exits your body, you are meditating with every breath you take. 

Focusing on your breaths promote concentration, brings positivity as your inhaling positive and exhaling negative, your thoughts start to turn into bigger and good things and with just breathing at ease you give your body the right amount of blood cells, you make your organs like heart and lungs stronger wich in longer run helps your mind. And that is the power of simple, slow breathing. Or how I like to call it: Turtle breathing. 

2. CONSCIOUS BREATHING

The first rule to breathe like a turtle is to breathe through your belly. Inhale stomach out and exhale stomach in. this rule is something which is hard for people to do, why? Because they are used to breathing only through their lungs which is not wrong but just starting to breathe through belly and then the breath starting from belly to lungs is more beneficial. 

Fun Fact: when you notice the new born babies you will see that when they breathe their belly has the most major role in it. It expands and contracts like a balloon. 

Consciously breathing through the belly not only promotes the right control of your breath, positivity or making your lungs stronger. It also makes you more present in the moment because you’re actively breathing. It calms you when you’re anxious and moreover keeps your mind at peace. 

These are some of the most important reasons to practice pranayama on a regular basis. That is why yoga teachers encourage you to close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing. Breathing properly benefits your physical health by preventing or curing a variety of diseases such as heart disease, colds, vertigo, and many more. Mindfulness also benefits your mental health since it allows you to consciously breathe and make decisions that are best for you. The last statement may appear absurd, yet simple breathing methods can help you maintain a healthy balance between your body and mind. 

That’s all there is to it, guys. This is all the information you need to know about how breathing affects your physical and emotional health. Please like and subscribe for more suggestions like this, as well as updates on yoga blogs. Let me know what you think, and if you want to learn more about yoga, start by reading my last blog, which is linked below. I hope to see you in the next one! Toodeloo! 

https://enchantedpen01.com/2023/11/06/yoga-series-the-impact-of-yoga-on-your-health/