Why is breathing important in Yoga?
Pranayama is the deliberate working of the breath. Prana in Sanskrit means the life-force (often referred to in the Yoga community as energy), as it is a vital component of life. Pranayama is not a forced deep breath, instead it is a conscious movement of the breath within the body that involves relaxed facial muscles, a softness in the chest that flows and is not rigid and a release of the mind from thoughts. There are no sudden movements in Pranayama practices, the goal is a flow that brings energy to all parts of the body.
Pranayama is often used at the beginning or end of a Yoga class and there are many different types of breath that may be taught, each with its own purpose. It is generally recommended that beginners to Yoga ease into Pranayama, and a yogi who has been doing Yoga classes for some time can attempt more complex types of Pranayama.
For more information try the following sources:
B.K.S. Iyengar, Yoga the path to holistic health, DK Publishers, 2001
Leslie Kaminoff & Amy Matthews, Yoga Anatomy, The Breathe Trust, 2012
Ray Long, The Key Muscles of Yoga, Bandah Yoga Publications, 2006
Ray Long, The Key Poses of Yoga, Bandah Yoga Publications, 2008
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