Yoga has an extremely long history; over 6,000 years in fact! This ancient form of exercise is great for conditioning the body and the mind alike.
The practice of yoga is largely thought of as just the asanas (postures and exercises), but breath is really at the heart of yoga training. Some have said "if you can breathe, then you can do yoga". The use of breathing techniques to quiet your mind is one of the primary objectives of yoga.
By regularly taking the time for yoga, you will become very conscious of your breathing. You will train yourself to control your breath, which will help you become calm and relaxed. As well, the form of your asanas will improve the more you focus on your breathing.
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.
Yoga can help to prevent stress and disease by letting you do this - letting go of these harmful, stressful thoughts, even for a short time, restores your body and mind to a healthy balanced state. Focusing on the present is what brings about this benefit.
Yoga teaches the practice of conscious breathing while doing poses - this fosters consciousness of your technique and greater mental alertness. By drawing your mind into the moment and forgetting all else, you will garner the benefits which yoga has to offer.
Yoga has many breathing exercises which combat tension and bring a balanced mental state - to begin with, try this exercise.
* Lie or sit still in a comfortable position and be aware of your breathing.
* Be aware of your breath while you inhale and exhale, counting to four each time. Do this several times.
* Next, increase your inhalation and exhalations to 5 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.
* However high a count you managed to attain with your breathing, maintain that number for a few more rounds, then stop counting and just breathe naturally for ten 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. - 15683
The practice of yoga is largely thought of as just the asanas (postures and exercises), but breath is really at the heart of yoga training. Some have said "if you can breathe, then you can do yoga". The use of breathing techniques to quiet your mind is one of the primary objectives of yoga.
By regularly taking the time for yoga, you will become very conscious of your breathing. You will train yourself to control your breath, which will help you become calm and relaxed. As well, the form of your asanas will improve the more you focus on your breathing.
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.
Yoga can help to prevent stress and disease by letting you do this - letting go of these harmful, stressful thoughts, even for a short time, restores your body and mind to a healthy balanced state. Focusing on the present is what brings about this benefit.
Yoga teaches the practice of conscious breathing while doing poses - this fosters consciousness of your technique and greater mental alertness. By drawing your mind into the moment and forgetting all else, you will garner the benefits which yoga has to offer.
Yoga has many breathing exercises which combat tension and bring a balanced mental state - to begin with, try this exercise.
* Lie or sit still in a comfortable position and be aware of your breathing.
* Be aware of your breath while you inhale and exhale, counting to four each time. Do this several times.
* Next, increase your inhalation and exhalations to 5 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.
* However high a count you managed to attain with your breathing, maintain that number for a few more rounds, then stop counting and just breathe naturally for ten 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. - 15683
About the Author:
Learn more about the practice of yoga at Simple Yoga Essentials, a guide to basic yoga exercises that will improve your body, mind and spirit.
