Connecting with our breath through yoga is my biggest passion and this Autumn we are going to be exploring a variety of techniques to deepen this connection. There have been numerous western medical scientific studies proving that when we breath well, we create the optimum conditions for health and well-being, and when we don’t we lay the foundation for illnesses such as heart disease and high blood pressure.
Whilst breathing sounds like the most natural thing in the world, most of us have no longer breath effortlessly. The stresses of modern lives, busy minds and poor posture mean that for many of us short, uneven breaths which originate high in the chest rather that the lower abdomen becomes the norm as does breath holding. As a simple exercise, lie on your back, close your eyes and feel the breath moving through your body. Try to be as relaxed as possible and connect with your own personal breathing patterns. It is important just to feel and observe as much as possible throughout the day.
For some more simple relaxation and breathing techniques click here