Yoga Breathing Exercises for Energy and Tranquility

Yoga breathing which is known as pranayama yoga is the first step toward re-orienting and improving the functioning of your mind and body by learning to optimise the breathing process. The Yogis were the first to discover the importance of oxygen and breath control and devised an exact science of breathing. They called it PRANA-YAMA, from the Sanskrit word prana meaning breath, and yama, its cessation. Pranayama implies correct breathing and breath control.

Before starting with pranayama, it will be worthwhile to understand what is generally wrong with our breathing process and why Proper Breathing is required. Also, it is important to understand the basic philosophy of Yogic Breathing. The purpose of yoga breathing exercises is to supply the body with oxygen and cleanse it of carbon dioxide and other toxins.

Oxygen in the blood is vital for

Assimilation of food we eat for full filling body's various needs like rebuilding tissues, supplying energy.
Stimulating the functioning of the endocrine glands.
Providing energy for functioning of brain, nerves, heart and other vital organs.
Distribution of vital energy throughout the body.

But most of us are unaware of the fact that the loss of energy/ prana we often feel in our body is mostly due to incorrect breathing. Generally, we may be utilising only a small portion of our lung capacity. This inadequate supply of oxygen results in improper waste disposal from our body. The body functions are slowed down and the cells/ tissues fail to regenerate themselves due to lack of sufficient energy.

With pranayama practice you can increase your intake of oxygen upto five times. This means you can get rid of five times of carbon dioxide from your body. You can imagine the improvement in your health by doing Pranayama.

There are three stages of yoga breathing process

Inhalation which is called (puraka), fills the lungs with air and stimulates the whole body.
Retention, is called (kumbhaka) during retention the bodies temperature is raised and the oxygen is absorbed.
Exhalation, is called (rechaka) here the diaphragm is returned to its original position and toxic air is released into the atmosphere.

Unless otherwise specified, generally the ratio between inhalation, retention and exhalation is 1:4:2.

Types of Yoga Breathing (Pranayama)

Following are the pranayama exercises you can practice

Rhythmic breathing and deep breathing Harmonise your body with your breath
Alom Vilom Ideal Pranayama for Healthy Heart
Kapalabhati Ideal for respiratory system, boosts memory
Agnisar Takes care of your abdomen/ digestive organs/intestines.
Bhastrika Ideal for diseases of the nose, chest and cures Asthma
Surya Bhedi Warms up the body in winters
Chandra Bhedi Cools the body in summer
Ujjayi Cures asthama, cough, cold and diseases of nose and ears
Bhramri Pranayama Increases blood circulation, stimulates thyroid glands
Shitali Pranayama Has a cooling effect, makes you beautiful
Shitkari Pranayama Has a cooling effect, makes you beautiful

Before starting the practice of yoga breathing, there are certain guidelines for pranayama which must be followed for optimum results. A healthy person can start with any type of pranayama. But for people with sedentary lifestyles and poor health, it is advisable first start with Asanas to tune the body for few days and then start with pranayama.

It is advisable to start pranayama from a teacher. But if you do not find a yoga teacher and want to start learning on your own, start very gradually with deep breathing, alom vilom for 2-3 weeks and then you can start other pranayama like Kapalabhati and Bhastrika. For weak people, even practice of alom vilom alone is known to produce remarkable results for healing and relaxation. Pranayama practice needs a relaxed state on mind. Do not rush through to complete a number of repetitions. If you have less time on a particular day, do a few pranayama exercises or reduce the number of repetitions.

Pranayama Can Change Lives. Pranayama help you to stay youthful, supple, slim and full of vital energy. Pranayama results in better mind control. The more you increase your supply of prana/ oxygen, the greater will be your sense of well-being. Pranayama lays the foundation for practice of asanas, relaxation, concentration and meditation.

Get Help For Yoga Breathing Questions? Share Your Experience

Are you having problems in understanding how to start Yoga Breathing? This is the place where you can ask a question about Yoga Breathing. Or you can share valuable tips with our readers.

I will give you an answer or help you solve the problem. It's free and it's easy to do. Just fill in the form below, then click on "Submit Your Question".

Enter title of Your Question

Tell Us Your Question About Yoga Breathing [ ? ]

Upload 1-4 Pictures or Graphics (optional) [ ? ]

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional)

Click here to upload more images (optional)

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

Your Name	(first or full name)
Your Location	(ex. City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

Check box to agree to these submission guidelines.

(You can preview and edit on the next page)

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Meditation
I am a doing Pranayama and Meditation as per steps mentioned in your website. When I do the pranayama lots of thoughts comes in my mind spontaneously. Also ...

I Feel Tired After Deep Breathing
I find my mouth filled with saliva upon doing pranayama(always). Also, I feel tired after doing it (not always). Why is that?

Answer
It is very difficult ...

Technique For Ujjayi Pranayama
How do we contract our inner throat muscle for ujjayi pranayama?

Payal

Answer

Technique For Generating Ujjayi Sound.
During inhalation and ...

Kapalabhati and Anulom Vilom In Moving Car
Can Kapalbhati and Anulom Vilom be done while moving in car since I have to spend nearly four hours everyday in the car?

Answer
It is not advisable ...

Can Kapalbhati Be Done In Office?
Can kapalbhati be done in office while sitting on your seat?

Answer
It is understood that you are familiar with yoga practice and pranayama, and ...

Practice Of Kapalabhati
Kapalbhati is mostly done for all health problems including blood sugar level. I have been practising this for almost two years and my count goes up to ...

Kapalabhati And High Blood Pressure
Hi, my name is sanjay. I have just started doing yoga for the last 3 days watching it on dvd of baba Ramdev. I'm suffering with high blood pressure and ...

Breathing While Walking
Hi Daljit,

While doing our morning walks I used to chant the MAHA MANTRA, "HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE, HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA ...

Pranayama Advice 70 Years Old Diabetic And Hypertensive
I am 70 years old, diabetic and hypertensive (under control o/a regular consultation of Doctor and use of prescribed medicine) and also had hernia operation ...

Yoga And Relaxation Techniques For Studies
I am Arpit Sharma from Bhopal. I have a query, it would be my pleasure if you will reply this mail. as I am very frustrated and depressed I will be very ...

Can I Do Kapalbhati With Mouth Breathing?
I am hema and I have respiratory problems since childhood. I breathe by mouth and hence I snore. In kapalbhati, we have to do exhaling by nose and inhaling ...

Precautions for Pranayama Practice
What care should we take while doing pranayama practice?

Answer
Here are some generalised precautions before starting pranayama.

1. If you have ...

Best Pranayama for Cough
What are the different Pranayama techniques to get relief from dry/wet Cough?

Answer

Practice of anulom vilom, bhastrika and kapalabhati pranayama ...

Pranayama After One Hour Of Dinner
Can I do pranayama after one hour of eating dinner and before going to bed?

I am practicing exercise and yoga for my back/ knee & shoulder pain under ...

Nose Bleeding After Kapalbharti And Alom Vilom Not rated yet
I have just started doing kapalbharti and anilom vilom for one hour every day in the morning and have noticed blood from my nose. Can you tell me tell ...

Pranayama To Lose Weight By Reducing Appetite Not rated yet
I would like to reduce my appetite, so I can lose weight. Which pranayama help in weight loss? How long should one practice each pranayama eg for 15 minutes ...

I Feel Trouble In Breathing Not rated yet
When last night I went to sleep, I felt trouble while breathing. A hissing sound like phooo phooo come out from my lungs. Please tell me how can I get ...

Breathing Problems Not rated yet
Sir, I joined yoga class two weeks ago. Now I have breathing problem. But I do Pranayama in yoga class. Why this problem? Is it due to doing yoga?

I ...

Kapalbhati By One Nostril Not rated yet
Most of time I breathe by one nostril sometime right, sometime left and sometime both are open. During kapalabhati I breathe by one nostril only. So I ...

Mouth Breathing Not rated yet
Dear Sir,

My son breathes only with mouth and even while sleeping. I'm worried that his teeth are coming up and not only that, I'm afraid that his ...

My Head Feels Heavy After Pranayama Not rated yet
After doing pranayama - alom vilom my head feels little heavy. In fact if I do any aasana my head feels heavy. So it it normal or I should stop? I am just ...

Hiccups and Burps Issue With Kapalabhati Pranayama Not rated yet
Question
After doing kapalabhati pranayama for few days, I am facing some problem in throat. Continuously getting Hiccups and Burps. Can you advise ...

Kapalabhati Pranayama And Dry Mouth Not rated yet
Question:
Can kapalabhati pranayama give a dry mouth?

Answer
1. Normally you should not feel thirsty while doing yoga or pranayama and it is not ...

Hyper Thyroid And Kapalbhati Not rated yet
Question:
Hello

I started yoga in January for weight loss. I was doing Kapalbathi, Aouloma viloma Pranayama and other Asanas. I had started to loss ...

Can I do Anulom Vilom Alone? Not rated yet
Question:
Can I do anulom vilom alone without doing other pranayamas? How long should I do it if doing it alone and how many times?

Answer:
It ...

Yoga To Improve Hearing Power Not rated yet
Suggest some yoga to improve hearing power with proper explanation and images.

Answer
1. Inverted yoga positions like halasana, sarvanghasana, karnpeedan ...

Deviated Nasal Septum And Pranayama Not rated yet
I have deviated nasal septum issue due to which my left nostril is almost blocked. I feel that my inhaling of breath is affected such that the air actually ...

Can We Sleep After Half An Hour After Doing Pranayama? Not rated yet
Please answer my questions. My questions are:-

1. After completing pranayama how much time I can sleep?

2. Can I do pranayama in evening time between ...

Bhastrik Pranayama Not rated yet
Hi! great site! I have been practising yoga for quite a few years now, including pranayama but sometimes while doing the latter, bhastrika specifically,...

Can I Start Practicing Pranayam Without Doing Any Asana Not rated yet
Can I start practicing Pranayama (alom vilom) without doing another asana? Because I am going to start now. I am healthy and 30 year old man.

Answer ...

Pranayama On Full Or Empty Stomach? Not rated yet
Can any pranayama be done on full stomach? Minimum how much time gap should be there between eating something & doing a pranayam..

Neha

Answer ...

Pranayama For Progressive System Sclerosis with ILD Not rated yet
I am a patient of PSS (progressive system.tic sclerosis)with ILD. My lung capacity is very less, I take very short breath, my immune system is weak, and ...

Yoga For Nasal Polyps And Sinus Trouble Not rated yet
I am suffering with severe sinus and my entire respiratory system is clogged with phlegm and I am having nasal polyps in my left nostril will it be a good ...

How Long Can We Do Pranayama? Not rated yet
How long we can do pranayam? If we do for more time, is there any risk? Like one hour or two hour or three hour.

Answer
The amount of time you spend ...

Can You Explain Rhythmic Breathing? Not rated yet
I am 58 years of age. Can you please explain about the rhythmic breathing? I want to know about the benefits of Pranayama.

Answer

Yogic breathing ...

Does Kapalabhati Pranayama Improves Complexion? Not rated yet
Photo Courtesy of hossinihossin25
Does regular practice of kapalbhati surely improves complexion? In how much time can we expect results? Please tell ...

Ratio of breathing in Pranayama? Not rated yet
I learnt yoga eight years back and I am still practising. But I forgot the ratio of breathing in Pranayama. I vaguely remember it as Puraka,Kumbhaka, Rechaka,...

Yoga and Breathing Force Not rated yet
(Photo Courtesy Lululemon Athletica )

Dear Sir,

My name is Dilip Shah and my age is 64 years with normal sleep and I take very little veg food....

Nose Breathing And Deep Abdominal Breathing Not rated yet
Why does one typically inhale and exhale through the nose when doing deep abdominal breathing?

Answer
As per yoga philosophy, breathing has to ...