The Science of Mindful Breathing: How Pranayama Boosts Your Health

There is no denying the link between our breath, our body, and our mental state. Yogis have known this for thousands of years and have always viewed the breath as a sacred action of connection both inside and out. “Pranayama” means breathing practices in Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages in history, and is an integral part of the art of yoga.

How exactly does the breath impact the body and mind? Wildly enough, the breath has an incredible impact us without us even realizing. Some health benefits of Pranayama are as follows:

• Deep breathing (belly breathing) moves the body’s nervous system from sympathetic (fight or flight) to parasympathetic (rest and digest) by cueing to the body that it is safe and supported. Breathing deeply with heavy, sigh-like exhales can also move us to this full body restful state. So go ahead, and take a few deep breaths, friend.
• Anulom Vilom: Alternate Nostril Breathing. This practice balances the mental state by integrating the left and right hemispheres of the brain. This calms and relaxes the mind into a very deep, almost trance-like meditative state, coming back feeling completely renewed.
• Kapal Bhati: Breath of Fire. This practice helps the body in so many ways! It’s great for boosting metabolism, firing up the digestive system, promoting lymphatic health, and cleansing the lungs. This practice is an overall powerhouse for your body! Let alone, leaves you in a great state of mental clarity afterwards.
• Ujayi Breath: slows down the heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and brings a calm to the mind unlike any other technique. Also puts body into rest and digest mode.
• Allows for muscle tension release

As you can see, the breath has the power to unlock things within us that the mind simply cannot tap into. These practices are incredible tools to use within your everyday life. If you’d like to learn more about these practices, check out my Online Yoga Courses to get a deep dive into the world of Hatha Yoga! If you’d like some quick how-to videos, subscribe to my Youtube channel and get to watching!