Shine your light pranayama practice
Did you know that you could add different flavors to your breath just by emphasizing the expansion of a particular body area or by adding intentional directionality to your breathing? On the inhale, you might choose to:
- Expand your chest first, then expand the belly
- Expand your belly first, then expand the chest
- Practice radiating breath from the center outward
All of those patterns are accomplished by intentional muscular engagement and movement of awareness. Each one of those patterns produces a slightly different physiological and mental-emotional effect. Read more about the mechanics of inhalation >
This week, let’s play with Radiating breath. It encourages you to expand from the center out into the periphery with every inhalation and return back to your center with every exhalation. This type of breathing, combined with Surya Mudra and Uddiyana-bandha like movement, is meant to create a sense of spaciousness, ignite your inner fire and help you feel more radiant.
Moving with the breath in your yoga practice and taking time to observe and regulate your breath throughout the day can give you a sense of inner spaciousness and show you that you have some control over your physical and mental state.
