Long Deep Breathing
Long Deep Breathing is a foundation of yogic practice. This simple breath practice can help calm the mind and reduce stress.
Sit in a comfortable position, either in a chair or on the floor.
Lengthen your spine and relax your shoulders.
Begin by taking a deep inhale through the nose. Expand the abdomen, moving upwards, expand the diaphragm and finally expand the lungs up to the collarbone.
Slowly, exhale through the nose. Let the chest and lungs relax first and then relax the belly button and lower abdomen.
Here is a beautiful video: (Jessica Wolf's The Art of Breathing) that shows a visual of what is happening inside your body during this breathing process.
Alternate Nostril Breathing
This yogic breath helps balance the mind, and creates a feeling of inner harmony.
•Use thumb of right hand to close the right nostril, and the index finger of the right hand to close the left nostril.
•Close the right nostril and inhale through the left nostril
•Close the left nostril and exhale through the right nostril
•Inhale through the right nostril
•Close the right nostril and exhale through the left nostril
•Continue repeating, alternating nostrils after each inhalation