Yoga is now widely recognized as a complementary health care tool in reducing stress, anxiety and depression and in lowering blood pressure. So, what is it about yoga that helps as an aid with these conditions? It's the breath.
While there are many different styles of yoga today, there is one thing they all have in common. They all incorporate nasal breathing into the movement. Those familiar with this practice will never see someone mouth breathing as seen in traditional exercise classes. Yoga students understand the nose is for breathing and the mouth is for eating.
Yoga breathing is called Pranayama. Pranayama means "to control the breath" or "mastering the life force." There are various types of breathing exercises from beginner to advanced. The techniques vary in degree of difficulty as do their healing qualities. Depending on the yoga style, some or all of these exercises are incorporated into a class.
By design, nasal breathing and mouth breathing facilitate totally different physiological responses in the body. Breathing through the nose activates the parasympathetic nervous system, and mouth breathing encourages the sympathetic nervous system. Your lungs deliver oxygen to your blood. If your lungs can't get enough oxygen to your blood, you can feel short of breath, and mouth breathing begins which elevates the heart rate and encourages the release of more sympathetic hormones into our system.
Read more here:
https://www.naturalnews.com/033332_health_breath.html
Yoga Style Breathing Exercise Benefits
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