Perhaps most well-known for its benefits on physical health and mental wellbeing, yoga is one of the oldest spiritual practices that lay the foundation for a more comprehensive approach to health and well-being. While there are many aspects of yoga to explore and uncover, perhaps one of the most significant is the power of active breathwork during yoga. It can be said that the primary purpose of yoga is to make an individual feel as though they are connected to their environment, while also cultivating a deep sense of peace and relaxation. In this expert guide, we’ll discuss the benefits of active breathwork during yoga, provide insights into what forms of breathing exercises can be used, and explore how the practice is applicable to different types of yoga practices.
What is Active Breathwork?
Active breathwork is an integral part of any yoga practice and is understood to foster a sense of calmness and inner peace. It is a conscious exploration of the natural rhythms of breath, as regulated by or assisted with particular asanas (postures) during yoga practice.
The primary goal of active breathwork is to balance the pranayama, or the energy flow of the human body. The stances of yoga provide the foundation from which we can move and explore the benefits of active breathwork in various ways, allowing us to cultivate more awareness and insight into the connection between our breathing and our physical and mental states. In many instances, non-traditional breathwork techniques are used in order to balance out the body’s pranic energy flow and create more balance within the mind, body, and spirit.
The Difference Between Restorative Breathing and Active Breathing
First, it’s important to understand the differences between restorative breathing, or deep breathing, and active breathing.
Restorative breathing is an ancient breathing technique that is used during meditation or relaxation practices and has been found to have a calming effect on the mind and body. This type of breathing encourages awareness and mindfulness through deep, slow, and thoughtful breaths that are held, releasing exhales and encouraging full oxygenation of your body’s cells. It encourages a relaxed, present, and non-changing state during yoga practice, allowing us to experience a sense of lightness, peace and tranquility.
Active breathing exercises, on the other hand, are movements of the breath and the body in a more dynamic way. These movements may include bends, twists, reverse inversions and lunges, to name a few. Active breathwork may also be used during sun salutations and inversions, which are yoga poses that involve the shifting of energy from one side of the body to the other in an effort to create balance. Each type of active breathwork helps to regulate the energy of the body and allows for more energy to move through the body, thus providing a sense of balance and wellbeing that cannot be experienced through dynamism alone.
Benefits of Active Breathwork
- Reduces Stress: The combination of breathwork and physical movement can be beneficial in reducing stress levels and bringing the body into a deeper state of relaxation and wellbeing. Focusing on your breath while moving can help you to become more aware of your current state, allowing you to find presence in the present and let go of any excess stress or tension.
- Improved Concentration: Active breathwork can help to focus the mind, allowing it to be more agile and aware. It can also help to calm and center the mental state, allowing for more effective decision making and problem solving.
- Improved Physical Performance: Active breathwork can help to improve physical performance by increasing oxygenation to the parts of the body that need it during a yoga practice. It can also improve balance and flexibility, while helping to reduce the risk of injury.
- Increased Creativity and Clarity: Active breathwork can help to foster creativity and clarity, allowing us to break through any mental blocks or become uninspired within our own experience. It can also help to foster a sense of inner peace and relaxation, bringing more ideas and clarity to the forefront of our minds.
Examples of Active Breathwork Practices
- Ujayi Breath: Ujayi breath is a type of deep exhalation breath that is often used in higher intensity yoga classes. It is usually done with the mouth closed. The exhale should be longer and slower than the inhale, which will expand your rib cage and create resistance in the lungs.
- Kapalabhati Breathing: Kapalabhati is a powerful form of breathwork that combines inhalations and exhalations while engaging the abdominal region of the body. This breath is done in a series of inhales and exhales using the diaphragm and belly to regulate the breath. It is often used to stimulate the body and mind, as well as promote detoxification.
- Sama Vritti: Sama vritti is a gentle form of breathwork that involves focusing on an equal measure of breath in each inhalation and exhalation. This is a great breath to begin with when practicing active breathing, as it helps to naturally ensure that the breath is even and steady.
- Bhramari Breath: Bhramari breath is a breathing practice that involves making a humming sound as you exhale. This practice encourages deep relaxation, relieves stress and tension, reduces irritability, and is said to promote clarity and focus.
Application in Different Types of Yoga
Active breathwork can be applied in a variety of different types of yoga practices, from more active forms such as vinyasa and power yoga to more slow and mindful approaches such as yin and restorative.
In active forms of yoga such as vinyasa, power yoga, and ashtanga, active breathwork can be utilized to foster a more powerful and focused practice. The use of active breathwork can help to bring more awareness and presence to each breath while also helping the body to find a steady rhythm and flow in the practice.
In more slower and mindful forms of yoga such as yin and restorative, active breathwork can be applied in order to allow the body to access a deeper level of relaxation and self-awareness. By utilizing breathing exercises, one can create greater presence in the body and mind, thus allowing for a greater understanding and appreciation of the physical sensations and mental reflections experienced during a yoga practice.
Conclusion
The incredible power of active breathwork during yoga practices continues to be an essential part of the spiritual practice. We’ve seen in this guide how active breathwork can be used to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and offer a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional benefits. We’ve also explored the various types of active breathwork practices and how they can be applied to different types of yoga practices, so that individual practitioners can find the breathing technique that works best for them. Ultimately, by connecting to the breath and allowing it to be our guide, we can create harmony, balance, and wellbeing in our lives that extends far beyond the yoga mats.
