[VIDEO] BREATHING TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU THOUGHT ABOUT HOW YOU BREATHE?

It’s amazing to many newcomers to yoga - just how easy it is to invite ease and reduce stress and feelings of anxiety - just by being mindful of the way we breathe.

Most of us were never taught as kids - how to use our breath to calm the body & tap into a skill that is readily available to us 24hrs a day.

Did you know that by making some small adjustments to the way that you breathe - you can not only give your nervous system a break from the stress-response - but you will also find that it is easier to let go of physical tension in the body.

In this short 3min video - Accredited Exercise Physiologist Russell Young, will show you 3 top tips for breathing in yoga.

OUR TOP 3 TIPS TO USE YOGA BREATHING TO REDUCE STRESS

Unless your teacher tells you otherwise, during class breathe in and out your nose.

Deep diaphragmatic breathing IN through the nose helps to stimulate the vagus nerve which helps to move the body from an anxious “stress/flight” response to a state of calm and relaxation. Compared to breathing in and out through the mouth (which tends to stimulate the nervous system - nasal breathing has a calming effect on the body and the mind.

Breath fully (calmly and deeply) using 3 part yogic breath.

Try not to force your breath - but instead deepen the breath to the point where it feels full without straining.

Sometimes you’ll notice a tendency to hold the breath or notice that the breath becomes strained. If this happens in a yoga class - you can always come into child’s pose and take a few deep breaths without the pressure of putting your body into a particular shape.

Try to think of bringing the breath down into your belly - then like a ballon expand belly, low ribs, upper chest & back body.

As you get more acquainted with your breath - you'll notice how you can use the breath to assist you in the yoga practice.

As a general rule - upward movements are linked with the inhalation and downward or forward folding movements are link with the exhalation.

Lengthen the exhalation.

Lengthening the exhalation usually helps to slow the breathing down, as well as have a calming effect on the nervous system.

Do you have any questions about the breath in yoga?

Let us know in the comments below!