The benefits of stress management and relaxation are easy to see with your yoga practice. I find these benefits even when I’m not on the mat–I can access deep relaxation with yoga breathing in my regular daily life. It is common to use deep breathing relaxation techniques to combat stress, and yoga does this naturally.
The Inhalation
You should breathe in through your nose. Rather than belly breathing, you want to expand your chest to fill your lungs. In yoga you are trying to keep your core engaged, so this does not play well with belly breathing. Yoga breathing is coordinated with the movements (in vinyasa yoga). Often when a pose is particularly challenging, the instinct is to hold your breath. It is important to keep breathing well at all times, and you will find this true in life.
The Exhalation
It is important to breathe out through the nose (not the mouth), and it makes a sound–much like fogging up glass. The heavy breathing in yoga class must seem unusual to someone new to the practice. Ouija breathing, this forceful exhalation, improves oxygen consumption while creating warmth in the body.
You will find this helps force more air out of the lungs. The release of tension with this is clearly noticeable. You think of the term ‘blowing off steam’ to describe this transformative breathing relaxation technique.
Yoga class usually includes a few cleansing breaths as well. In this case the exhalation does come through the mouth with a sigh. Typically these are used right after a more challenging sequence. In life it is important to incorporate these sighs during or after some of your more intense challenges.
It is natural for me to use deep breathing relaxation methods throughout my day without even realizing it. Yoga has helped to train my automatic behavior. I find myself taking deeper breaths as needed without consciously initiating them. I also catch myself when I am holding my breath, and redirect myself to some deep breathing.
I’ve heard yoga instructors say that a single, conscious breath makes a yoga practice. This allows the stress management benefits from yoga to bleed over into life. You will enjoy the fact that relaxation with yoga breathing becomes automatic over time. Yoga just may be the only breathing relaxation technique you need.