HEALTH: Breathe deep for more energy

Breathe deep for more energy


Yoga
Lee Kennedy

Part 1
The complete breath
Our breath is the connection between our body and our mind. Breathing exercises are a powerful way to rework energy levels and to change an individual’s mental and emotional sate. In yoga, the term ‘pranayama’ is used to describe practices that work directly with the breath to influence the energetic body, the ‘pranayama kosha’, which surrounds and encompasses the physical body.
These practices are safe, simple and can have a profound effect, boosting flagging energy levels, helping to lower blood pressure, promoting a sense of deep relaxation. What follows is a guide to the ‘full yogic breath’ also known as ‘the complete breath’, broken down into three sections.

Belly
Lie down, close your eyes and begin by bringing your attention down to the lowest part of the abdomen. Let the breath move low down between your navel and pubic bone. Allow your belly to expand on the inhalation. Allow the belly to sink back towards the spine on the exhalations.

Rib Cage
Draw the breath now from the belly up into the side rib cage. Allow the chest to expand front to back as the breath moves in. Allow the chest to expand sideways, as the breath moves in, with movement under the armpits. Feel each rib moving apart from its neighbour to create a welcoming space for the incoming breath. Allow the upper back to expand, opening a space between the two shoulder blades as the breath moves up. On the exhalation allow the whole chest to deflate. Once the rhythm flows easily from the belly up to the chest and then down again, proceed to the third stage to complete the breath.

Upper Chest
Feel the breath rising all the way from the lowest part of the belly up to the top most part of the lungs. Sneak in an extra top-up breath right under the collar bones at the base of the throat. On the exhalation allow for a complete release as the breath leaves.

Next week in Part 2, we’ll look at the benefits of this deep-breathing technique. Until then, practice working with these three sections ideally first thing in the morning, as you are waking and in those final moments before you sleep. Spending a few minutes each time.