For breath is life, so if you breathe well you will live long on earth.
– Sanskrit Proverb
When most people think of yoga, breathing exercises don’t automatically pop into their heads. But when we think of yoga as the 8-limbed path and more than the postures (asana), we find that breathing, known in the yoga community as Pranayama, is indeed one of the 8 limbs.
Pranayama is the practice of regulating one’s breath. The word Pranayama is Sanskrit and can be translated as control of life force of life energy. Different breathing practices or exercises can elicit a different response in the body. Some exercises invite a sense of calm and help you release stress (like Nadi Sodhana), while others cause a person to heat up (like Kapalabhati) or draw inward (like Bhramari Pranayama). No one breath is better or worse than any other, but based on what you are looking for, one breathing exercise might suit you more than another.
8 types of Pranayama (Breathing Exercises)
- Ujjayi Pranayama ‘Ocean Breath’
- Nadi Sodhana ‘Alternate Nostril Breathing’ – try this out
- Dirga Pranayama ‘Three Part Breath’ – try this out
- Shitali Pranayama ‘Cooling Breath’ – try this out
- Bhramari Pranayama ‘Bumble Bee Breath’
- Bhastrika Pranayama ‘Bellows Breath’
- Kapalabhati Pranayama ‘Skull Shining Breath’ or ‘Breath Of Fire’
- Viloma Pranayama ‘Against The Wave’
Are these breathing exercises challenging?
While some exercises might take a while to master, most are accessible. Start with trying 4-6 rounds of breath and see how that feels. As you keep practicing, slowly increase the number of rounds of breath. The more you practice or train, the more noticeable the effects will be. So, pick one breathing exercise from the list and get started!
Why should I learn a breathing exercise?
Pranayama, or breathing exercises, are the most accessible form of yoga! They are fantastic tools to have to regulate your energy. The word energy might throw you off, but think of it as calming yourself down when you are anxious or pumping yourself up when you feel sleepy in the afternoon.
Start now by picking a breathing exercise from the list above. Watch the video and try it out. See how you feel as a result!
