Four-part Deep Breathing Pranayama

Aloha Everyone,

This is a great, simple pranayama to start your Kundalini Yoga kriya and it is suggested along with Breath of Fire to incorporate into your daily yoga practice.

POSTURE:  Sit in easy pose or on chair feet flat on the floor, legs shoulder-width apart.

Chest lifted, relax your shoulders.  Elongate your spine upwards, lengthen your neck and tuck your chin about 1/10 of an inch to help align the back of your head to your spine.  Close your eyes.  Relax your diaphragm and stomach muscles.

MUDRA:  Namaste hands but bring your palms approximately 4 inches away from the chest, elbows up. Put slight pressure against the palms.

TECHNIQUE:

Begin inhalation by 4 equal sniffs to fill your lungs completely then exhale fully in 4 equal sniffs. Concentrate so that each time you do inhalation in 4 sniffs your lungs are completely expanded then when you do exhalation in 4 sniffs, your air is fully expelled as you pull in your diaphragm and stomach muscles.

DURATION:  1 minute to begin; increase up to 5 minutes for each practice sessions.

BENEFITS:

Helps you awaken your energy, improves and increases your respiratory system.

Quickly oxygenates your blood and helps body heal.

Increases the amount of your prana to your body.

CAUTION:

For those with high blood pressure, heart disease or suffer from other medical conditions, use extreme caution in doing any breathing exercises.

Do not over-do and if you begin to feel dizzy, stop and return to normal breathing.

Namaste -- Cathi