{"id":22056,"date":"2023-11-06T19:43:20","date_gmt":"2023-11-06T19:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movementformodernlife.com\/blog\/?p=22056"},"modified":"2023-12-30T14:37:33","modified_gmt":"2023-12-30T14:37:33","slug":"yoga-breathing-exercises-for-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movementformodernlife.com\/blog\/yoga-breathing-exercises-for-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"Yoga for Beginners: Yoga Breathing Exercises for Beginners | Helen Krag"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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BREATH<\/a> AND MOVEMENT<\/a> ARE INEXTRICABLY INTERTWINED IN OUR YOGA PRACTICE. THE QUALITY OF OUR BREATH DETERMINES THE QUALITY OF A POSE. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

HELEN KRAG EXPLORES HOW TO MASTER YOGA BREATHING AS A BEGINNER.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I took up yoga in my 20s during a particularly stressful period in my life. My focus in those early years was the physical asana practise. It seems strange to acknowledge it now, but the \u2018breathing aspect\u2019 just didn\u2019t really feature. I would, somewhat haphazardly, follow my teacher\u2019s breath cues \u2026 and think no more of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s likely that, back then, I held a view still widely expressed today: \u201cWhy would I need to learn to breathe? I\u2019ve been breathing my whole life!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201c[Scientists have] discovered that 90 percent of us \u2013 very likely me, you, and almost everyone you know \u2013 is breathing incorrectly and this failure is either causing or aggravating a laundry list of chronic diseases.\u201d<\/p>\nJames Nestor, \u2018Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art\u2019<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Read more about yoga for stress and anxiety in this complete guide<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A \u2018lost art\u2019 indeed! Working consciously with the breath is fundamental in yogic traditions. Prana<\/em> (translated from Sanskrit as \u2018to breathe forth\u2019) represents vital life force energy. Pranayama <\/em>is a means of using the breath to extend and expand our prana. The formalised practice of Pranayama is discussed in classic yoga texts and predates postural yoga as we know it today by several centuries<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWhen, right from the get-go, we incorporate breath into our postural practice it becomes a habit that helps us come home to wholeness.\u201d<\/p>\nLucy McCarthy<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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In Breath and Yoga for Beginners<\/a>, Lucy<\/a> explains the link and shares some valuable tips on how to develop your breath practice as a yoga beginner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In this blog, ‘Yoga Breathing Exercises for Beginners,’ we feature both formal pranayama practices along with classes to begin to combine movement with breath work<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will cover:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst this content is ideal for yoga beginners, it can, of course, benefit us all – regardless of how long we have been practising yoga, or how many years we have been breathing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Our Breathing Anatomy<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Get to Know your Breath<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Courses with Yoga Breathing Exercises for Beginners<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Intro to Pranayama: Formal Yoga Breathing Exercises for Beginners<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Classes: Movement and Breath<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Further Reading<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Breathing is a unique bodily process in that we do it both unconsciously (automatically) and consciously. It is helpful to understand the apparatus that supports breathing so we can visualise what happens inside when we breathe. Anatomy of Breathing<\/a> with Lucy & Ben Parker<\/a> explains the parts of our body that get involved in this vital process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    OUR BREATHING ANATOMY<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    GET TO KNOW YOUR BREATH<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    A good starting point is to get into the habit of noticing the breath. These five yoga breathing exercises for beginners are breath-based meditations with Nikita Akilapa<\/a>. Each lasts 5-10 minutes and features different aspects of the breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The first practice is to use the breath as an anchor to the present moment. Practice this in Nikita’s class on ‘Watching the Breath.’ <\/a> Learn how to pay close attention to your breath and how it feels in your body.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    In the second part in our introduction to breath work, we notice the breath within the body<\/a>. Notice the body’s involuntary response to your inhalations and exhalations. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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    Next, we start to count the breath<\/a>. Get settled in a comfortable spot, either sitting or lying down, and begin to count your breaths backwards from 20 to 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You might want to use this exercise as a tool to anchor an anxious mind any time you feel overwhelmed.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    In Meditation: Exploring the Breath<\/a>, we learn how to practise ratio breathing as a means to change the way we feel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is another great technique you might want to use as a tool to ground an anxious mind.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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    In the final part of our yoga breathing exercises for beginners, we explore the pauses in breath <\/a>\u2013 the top and bottom of the inhale\/exhale<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    COURSES WITH YOGA BREATHING EXERCISES FOR BEGINNERS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    One of the best ways to learn about and develop breath techniques is to invest regular time daily over a set number of days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ten Day Breath Challenge<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    The Ten Day Breath Challenge<\/a> with Dan Peppiatt<\/a> is a series of lessons and activities that draws on a wide range of breath work disciplines. The preparatory exercises in the first session and the techniques for finding space in the ribcage and upper chest are particularly helpful. You will learn how to direct the breath for different situations \u2013 for example, if you want to feel energised\u2026 or calm.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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    Time to Breathe<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    Time to Breathe<\/a> comprises 21 classes, mostly under 30 minutes, which focus on breathing, QiGong<\/a>, meditation<\/a>, restorative yoga <\/a>and yoga nidra<\/a> \u2013 all with the breath at the heart of them. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    INTRO TO PRANAYAMA: FORMAL YOGA BREATHING EXERCISES FOR BEGINNERS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    According to Richard Rosen in his book, \u2018The Yoga of Breath\u2019<\/a>, there are more than a dozen different (formal, traditional) pranayamas. As an introduction for beginners, let\u2019s take a look at two of these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Two Yoga Breathing Exercises for Beginners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Ujjayi Pranayama or \u2018Ocean Breath\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Ujjayi is a Sanskrit word meaning \u2018to win\u2019, \u2018to conquer\u2019 or \u2018to be victorious\u2019. Thus you may also hear it called Conqueror\u2019s Breath<\/em> or Victorious Breath<\/em>. It is known as Ocean Breath<\/em> because the sound made is reminiscent of the ocean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    In this short interview and demonstration, Max Strom<\/a> teaches us the basis of the breathing technique, Ocean Breath<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is a wonderful technique for dealing with all kinds of stress as well as being the basis for breathing during yoga practice.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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    Nadi Shodhana or \u2018Alternate Nostril Breathing\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Nadi<\/em> is a Sanskrit word for a channel of the subtle body through which prana flows. Shodhana<\/em> means cleansing or purifying. Alternative nostril breathing clears the channels both physically and energetically so that our energy can be balanced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Vidya Heisel<\/a> walks us through the technique, called Nadi Shodama<\/a>, for this relaxing, cleansing breath. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This alternate nostril practice is wonderful for helping the body to relax and will help to cope with anxiety or stress, and can even help with sleeplessness<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    Yoga Breathing for Beginners: Combining Movement and Breath<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Each of these classes combine yoga breathing exercises for beginners with postural movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Yoga for Beginners: Breath-Led Movement<\/a> with Lucy McCarthy<\/a> features a gentle sequence led by Ujjayi (Victorious) Breath. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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    Beginners 1: Move with the Breath<\/a> with Clare Beagley<\/a> explores the difference between natural breath and Ujjayi Breath.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    Yoga for Beginners: Embodied Breath<\/a> with Ava Riby-Williams<\/a> focuses on the breath and lungs as we progress through a sequence of poses.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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    FURTHER READING<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    These yoga breathing exercises for beginners are merely a starting point. Here are some reading suggestions if you would like to delve deeper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n