There are different types of breathing that are used in Kundalini Yoga. Long Deep Breathing and Breath of Fire are the two major types of great importance.
Long Deep Breathing can be practiced anywhere, any time of the day; you can be standing, sitting or lying on your back. It is very simple yet has a pretty long list of benefits. It relaxes your mind, calms your parasympathetic nervous system, cleanses the blood, stimulates release of endorphins in your brain and aids in fighting addictions to name a few.
To begin we recommend to place one hand on your belly and the other hand on your chest. First pay attention to your rhythm, notice how you breathe. Do it for a couple of minutes.
Long Deep Breathing is done in 3 steps:
First - begin inhaling by expanding your belly out.
Second - fill your lower chest with air.
Third - fill your upper chest with air.
Exhalation is also done in 3 steps:
First - deflate your upper chest.
Second - deflate your lower chest.
Third - pull the belly in.
Breath of Fire (Agni Pran) is a rapid, rhythmic and continuous breathing. It is done by continually pumping your navel. Many beginners make a common mistake by inhaling, suspending the breath and then pumping the navel. This is NOT how you do it. You do not suspend your breath while doing it. Your inhale is short and is equal to the exhale. Here is a good example that will help you understand its principle: Put one hand in front of you and imagine that your index finger that is pointing up, is a flame of a candle. Now try to blow it. Notice how your belly is pulled in as you exhale and is relaxed as you inhale. Try several times. You exhaled powerfully through your mouth.
Breath of Fire is done breathing through the nose unless otherwise specified. We simply pump our navel as we exhale and allow it to relax on the inhale. You can begin with a slower pace and speed it up as you master it.
Breath of Fire energizes your entire body with no side effects unlike caffeine or popular now energy drinks. It releases toxins from your lungs, increases oxygen delivery to the brain, making you more alert and receptive, boosts immune system and strengthens the navel chakra.
Long Deep Breathing can be practiced anywhere, any time of the day; you can be standing, sitting or lying on your back. It is very simple yet has a pretty long list of benefits. It relaxes your mind, calms your parasympathetic nervous system, cleanses the blood, stimulates release of endorphins in your brain and aids in fighting addictions to name a few.
To begin we recommend to place one hand on your belly and the other hand on your chest. First pay attention to your rhythm, notice how you breathe. Do it for a couple of minutes.
Long Deep Breathing is done in 3 steps:
First - begin inhaling by expanding your belly out.
Second - fill your lower chest with air.
Third - fill your upper chest with air.
Exhalation is also done in 3 steps:
First - deflate your upper chest.
Second - deflate your lower chest.
Third - pull the belly in.
Breath of Fire (Agni Pran) is a rapid, rhythmic and continuous breathing. It is done by continually pumping your navel. Many beginners make a common mistake by inhaling, suspending the breath and then pumping the navel. This is NOT how you do it. You do not suspend your breath while doing it. Your inhale is short and is equal to the exhale. Here is a good example that will help you understand its principle: Put one hand in front of you and imagine that your index finger that is pointing up, is a flame of a candle. Now try to blow it. Notice how your belly is pulled in as you exhale and is relaxed as you inhale. Try several times. You exhaled powerfully through your mouth.
Breath of Fire is done breathing through the nose unless otherwise specified. We simply pump our navel as we exhale and allow it to relax on the inhale. You can begin with a slower pace and speed it up as you master it.
Breath of Fire energizes your entire body with no side effects unlike caffeine or popular now energy drinks. It releases toxins from your lungs, increases oxygen delivery to the brain, making you more alert and receptive, boosts immune system and strengthens the navel chakra.