Yoga Breathing Exercises For Instant Stress Relief

Breath of Fire

Perhaps one of the most popular yoga breathing exercises, it warms up the body and activates the brain by increasing oxygen and circulation.

1. Exhale through the nose by pulling the navel in toward the spine and pushing air out.

2. Relax the navel and allow the lungs to naturally fill through the nose.

3. Repeat several times in a row, and then take a break. Practice for 1-3 minutes.

This breath can be quite powerful, and you may feel a little dizzy or a slight headache when first trying it. With practice, these sensations should decrease and are usually not serious. Use whenever you need a little boost of energy or emotional uplift.

Sitali Breath

This is an ancient breathing exercise that soothes the spine, and detoxifies the body when practiced regularly. It is useful whenever you need to cool off, as it also relieves anger and tension.

1. Sit in a comfortable seated position with your spine straight, either on the floor with legs crossed, or upright in a chair.

2. Stick your tongue out slightly and curl the sides of your tongue upward.

3. Inhale smoothly through the tongue and mouth, then close mouth and exhale through the nose.

4. Continue for 1 to 3 minutes.

If your tongue does not curl, that is not a problem. Just bend the sides of the tongue upward as far as you can and breathe over the tongue. It is rumored that practicing this several times per day can extend your life span. How do you think those yogis live so long anyway?

With just a little practice, these exercises can become a crucial part of your self-care routine, as they can be called upon as needed throughout your day. The more you practice, the more benefits you will receive, and stress will naturally float away with just a breath.

Seem too good to be true? Have too much to get done and no time to sit around and breathe? While yoga breathing exercises can’t finish off your to-do list, they can rejuvenate and inspire you enough to actually deal with it. Giving your mind, body and spirit room to breathe in this crazy world makes everything easier to handle. What have you got to lose besides your stress?

Author

This article was written for Insights-on-Health.com in 2014 by Vicki Wiepking. Vicki is a 2008 graduate of The McKay Method School of Energy Healing in Bozeman, MT, and a certified Flower Essence Practitioner. She is the owner of Rasa Deva Wellness in Bozeman, where she offers a unique combination of energy healing, flower essences and essential oils to her clients. Vicki currently teaches energy healing classes at both the McKay Method and HealthWorks Institute.

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