For Better Health Do Yoga Breathing Articles | Yoga

By: Darren Williger

The respiratory system, which consists primarily of breathing in and breathing out is something which we always take for granted. Yet this life-maintenance system works relentlessly through our lives taking in oxygen from the air to feed our body cells and blood and emits carbon dioxide back in to the air, after extracting all the toxins from our bodies. This process is gaseous exchange and takes place in the lungs. The other body parts which play important roles in this process are: nasal passages, the pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs and muscles; diaphragm, external and internal intercostals, transverse abdominal, scaleni and sternomastoids.

The physiology:

Inhalation: When we breathe in, the diaphragm contracts and becomes flatter; this reduces the space within the chest cavity thereby increasing the space within the lungs. The air that we breathe in equalizes this pressure. The process of inhalation is a natural follow-up of exhalation.

Exhalation: Immediately following inhalation, we breathe out air. This is called exhalation. Here the diaphragm expands and rises thereby reducing the pressure in the chest and air is emitted from the lungs.

In all yoga exercises, breathing plays the all-important role in the control of the mind and body. There are no limited breathing in yoga as the techniques are meant to be practiced for life. controlling the breath the body can better cope with any stressful events, feelings and emotions. Ultimately the mind and body, both are at rest, yet remaining forever alert and aware. Yoga and breathing are intricately related to each other and include being aware of your breathing, nostril breathing, linking all body movements to breathing, lengthening the breath and the complete yoga breath.

The Yoga Breath

According to Yoga science, a complete breath undergoes 3 phases, which are:  

1. Diaphragmatic (abdominal)
2. Thoracic (ribcage)
3. Clavical (upper chest/collar bone)

All these 3 phases are to be felt and experienced as independent entities. Once you have developed adequate skill to do this, then the breathing is without any jerk or tension – it is like one long smooth wave. You could imagine the inhalation and exhalation as two halves of a full circle where the process is as follows:  

• Inhale – abdominal – thoracic – clavical
• Exhale – clavical – thoracic - abdominal