The practice of yoga, which goes back over 6000 years, not only improves the body but also the mind. While the various asanas or postures are the core of yoga training, the breath is its soul. It’s been said that if you can breathe, you can practice yoga. A fundamental aim of yoga is to help you learn to calm your mind through your breathing.
The regular practice of yoga will make you intimately acquainted with yoga. You’ll learn proper techniques for breathing which will produce relaxation and stress relief and also help you to achieve better posture.
Our minds tend to wander; thinking of the future and the past constantly. With yoga, you’ll train yourself to consider the present – where we are, where our bodies exist. The practice of yoga through breathing techniques helps you to draw your thoughts inward and release all of your worries and tensions.
One of the refreshing aspects about yoga is that, even if only for a minute, you are able to focus and concentrate on the present, and you are learning to let go of the cares and concerns that can bring tension and disease to your body.
By practicing yoga, you will learn conscious breathing during yoga poses which will keep your mind alert and ever aware of your practice. You will learn how to draw your mind to the present moment – allowing you to leave off all other thoughts.
The following breathing exercise is a simple method of practicing yoga that will help you to let go of stress and balance your mind.
* Sit or lie down in a comfortable position and become attuned to your normal breathing patterns.
* Continue by being aware of your breath but make your inhalations and your exhalations 4 counts each for several rounds.
* Next, make your inhalations and exhalations last for five counts each.
* Next, increase your inhalations and exhalations to 6 counts each. This time try to become aware of your body ” making sure you are not tensed.
* Continue this way until your inhalations and exhalations reach 9 counts. If this is causing you any discomfort, drop the count back down to more comfortable number for you.
* Keep focusing on your body and be aware of any tension. Make a conscious effort to relax any parts of your body that are tense.
* Whatever number of counts you reach, continue breathing with these long breaths for several rounds, then stop counting and breathe normally for 10 rounds.
What you can gain from this exercise – as you can from a number of other yogic breathing exercises, is the capacity to still your mind and relax your body through mastery over your breath. With some practice, you will become an expert at this technique, able to achieve a state of relaxation any time you are under stress and feeling tense.
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