Breath: The Sweetness of Yoga Practice
When was the last time you felt completely renewed after practicing yoga? I bet you were deeply connected to your breathing. Zoning inward to the breath can make all the difference. The breath is a gateway to greater awareness and enjoyment in your yoga practice.
How you breathe in a posture matters more than what it looks like.
Yoga can appear to be purely a physical practice, but there are many layers. In the words of T.K.V. Desikachar, practicing yoga is about “how you breathe, how you feel the breath, and how you coordinate your breathing with physical movement.” A great way to begin yoga (or begin again) is simply by becoming aware of your breathing.
Your breath is a life-giving force.
Yoga creates awareness of your physical body, and also of an energy body. This life force energy is called Chi or Qi in Chinese medicine, and Prana in yoga.
Prana enlivens the body and mind.
The deep diaphragmatic breathing during yoga practice enhances Prana. Think of it as waking up every area of the body by way of the breath. When your movements are really linked to your breathing, grasping and forcing aren’t happening. There’s an allowing and pleasantness that comes from moving to your breath. As Desikachar said, finding the natural link between breath and movement is the most important aspect of asana practice. This still fascinates me.
In many spiritual traditions, the word for breath and spirit are the same. Breath is described as the thread which links body and spirit. Joining breath with movement creates a more meditative practice. This integration of breath sets yoga practice apart from exercise. Pranayama, or breath work, can also be a complete practice and meditation on its own.
Breath and mind are linked. As the breath steadies, so too does the mind.
With consistent practice, positive effects can take place on many levels—physical, mental, and spiritual. And so, we practice, one breath at a time. 🤍
“As we move in and out of poses in unison with the breath, we may experience a sense of seamlessly joining our inner world of experience, with our outer world of perception… As we do, the practice takes on a deeply meditative quality.” —Richard Freeman & Mary Taylor, The Art of Vinyasa.
Do you live around the St. Paul, MN, area? If so, join our yoga community! View Ashtanga Class Schedule