Benefits of yoga in everyday life: Breathing

Conscious TV

July 08, 2021

We all know the integral benefit that the practice of yoga brings to our body and mind; its practice is spreading day by day because it has been proven that it brings benefits to our daily routine, from helping to cultivate relaxation and tranquillity to the physical strengthening of our body.

In this and the following articles we are going to analyse in detail elements of yoga that are especially useful in our daily chores. Learning them, through the practice of asanas, brings us benefits that we can hardly forget in our daily life. The most important thing about Yoga is not only the happiness it generates when we practice it, but also that it re-educates us so that it extends to 24 hours a day and finally our day to day life is much healthier and happier.

In today's article we will talk about breathing. When doing any kind of sport, during childbirth, in an anxiety attack, in a moment of stress, when walking or when working, breathing is such an important and transforming element that depending on how it is done, it will produce different effects on our organism. In today's society, so preoccupied with the work situation, pending tasks or leisure, we forget to pay attention to things as important as breathing, which is always with us.

There are four types of breathing. We are going to analyse them all, with emphasis on the last one, which is the full or yogic breath.

1. Clavicular breathing. This is breathing that involves the upper part of the lungs. This is what we do when we are nervous or anxious. It is the worst form of breathing as it is the one that involves the greatest effort and the least amount of air.
2. Thoracic breathing. This is another incomplete form of breathing, although it is part of the complete breathing that we will see later. It uses the intercostal muscles and takes in more air than clavicular breathing, but it is still incomplete, as mentioned above. It is usually used when the abdominal muscles are not toned.
3. Abdominal breathing.  This breathing, also known as diaphragmatic breathing, is performed, as its name suggests, using the diaphragm. It is the one that manages to introduce a greater amount of air into the body, thus oxygenating it better. It is a very relaxing breathing, improves circulation and massages the abdominal organs.
4. Complete or yogic breathing. This breath combines all three types of breathing into one.  It starts with an abdominal breath, directing the air to the lower part, moving on to the thoracic breath and ending with a clavicular breath. The exhalation is done in reverse, first expelling the air from the upper part, then the middle part and finishing with the lower zone.

Yogic breathing has many benefits. Apart from those already mentioned, it provides total self-control, helps concentration, relaxation and increases our lung capacity.

If you want to know more about yogic breathing and learn the other techniques for yoga practice, join our yoga for beginners course. It's a great way to start becoming healthier, more relaxed and happier.