bikram challenge - day 2 - pranayama breathing!

Joani Nunez - Tuesday, February 16, 2010

day 2 of our bikram challenge is well underway!

during class these next couple of days really focus on the first breathing exercise, pranayama breathing. bring all of your attention to each inhale and make every effort to take in just a little bit more air each time. exhale with the same determination and concentration.... notice anything different? make an entry in your journal about the breath....

this breathing exercise is often overlooked or done in a rote manner. some folks even try to avoid it (which is one of the reasons we do not allow students to enter the classroom if they're late). however the foundation of the entire class rests firmly in this first breathing exercise. pranayama warms the body from the inside out. it increases the oxygen in our blood and fills us with "prana" / life force energy.

you can do this breathing exercise before any physical activity as it increases circulation throughout your entire body. instead of using only 10% of your lung capacity, pranayama breathing, done correctly and mindfully, uses 100% of your lung capacity. this breathing exercise benefits everyone, but especially those who struggle with asthma, emphysema, and other lung ailments. pranayama breathing is nature's medicine for our lungs, so give this exercise your very best effort!

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