"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

Breathing techniques to enable you loosen up

A yoga practice incorporates many distinct respiratory techniques (above and beyond what you do during a yoga routine) that may enable you loosen up and de-stress. And lots of these techniques may be done anytime, anywhere—not only during yoga class.

If you ought to reap the advantages of those respiratory techniques, start with the belly respiratory technique below. Once you've mastered belly respiratory, you’ll be able to then try others based on the unique advantages each technique offers.

Belly respiratory

When we take into consideration our every day lives, most of us take quick, shallow “chest breaths” that may leave us feeling stressed and drained. Belly respiratory, also generally known as “belly breathing,” is a basic yoga breath that counteracts the results of chest respiratory. The technique emphasizes deep respiratory to induce abdominal movement. It's necessary for beginners to practice yoga, but everyone can profit from learning it, yogi or not.

Belly respiratory is learned while lying in your back, with one or each hands in your stomach. For belly respiratory, inhale slowly and deeply, drawing the air into the underside of your lungs as your hand rises. Your belly should expand and expand as you inhale, then contract and lower as you exhale. One technique to give it some thought is to assume your lungs as two glasses of water – with each breath, you fill them from the underside up, but empty them from the highest down.

Once you're comfortable with belly respiratory while leaning or standing, you’ll be able to try it. You can use this method if you practice yoga postures or when meditating. It can be useful at any time of the day when you have to calm down.

Photo: Dragon Images/iStock