No Breath, No Yoga

Yogis have known about it for hundreds of years: the power of the breath. Of course it keeps you alive for one, pretty essential. But when you are healthy that part goes automatic, you don’t even think about it. It’s when you start to pay attention to the breath and observe it, you discover its true potential. 

Have you ever felt the influence of someone who’s holding their breath, while telling a personal story? Before long many in the same room will start to hold their breath too. The tension starts to build up, until you want to shout “Please breathe… I cannot take it any longer”. Things can actually be breathtaking. That’s how much influence our breathing has on our lives and the ones around us. 

Your emotions live in your breathing patterns. I love the explanation Max Strom gave in a workshop once. When you’re sad your breathing becomes more slow and shallow. Barely hearable. When you’re happy you take deep delicious breaths in. Like you’re sipping in life. And when you’re angry your breath quickens. When you cry your lungs even start to convulse.

You probably already knew that. That’s why you tell friends to take a few deep breaths when they’re in despair or angry. But do you realise that also allows you to change the way you feel…. by changing your breathing patterns. Think about it: Why do you feel better after yoga? It’s the combination of moving your body to the breath. Pranayama (Sanskrit for breath regulation practice) is the fourth limb of yoga in the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, right after Asana. Because “No breath, no yoga”.

Try Nadi Shodana (alternate nostril breathing) with the video with Marilou below

Namasté,

Marjolein