Casa Yoga Haarlem
Keep your body warm in the winter.
Most of us are unaware of the loss of energy we get due to incorrect breathing. People often use only some part of the lungs capacity. Inadequate supply of oxygen results in improper waste disposal from our body. The body functions are slowed down and the cells and tissues fail to regenerate themselves due to lack of sufficient energy.
Oxygen in the blood is vital for
- assimilation of food we eat. The right assimilation rebuild tissues and supplies energy.
- stimulating the functioning of the endocrine glands.
- providing energy for functioning of brain, nerves, heart and other vital organs.
- distribution of vital energy throughout the body.
With learning how to breathe correctly, you can increase intake of oxygen up to 5 times! So if you feel that in the cold days you are getting tired and your mood is changing, try not only pay attention to your diet, sleeping habits and exercises but tray as well to focus on your breathing. After few times of regular practice you start to feel the benefits.
The following breathing technique, called Surya Bhedi, is perfect for the cold winter days.
Sit comfortable. Pay attention to the position of your back, shoulders and neck. Place the right thumb on the right nostril, the right index finger between the eyebrows and rest the middle finger against the left nostril.
- Inhale slowly through the right nostril (trying to take a full, deep breath)
- Hold your breath. (Do not hold breath initially for 2- 3 months, practice only inhalation and exhalation - do not hold breath at all if you are suffering from heart disease, asthma).
- Exhale through the left nostril slowly. Continue in this manner, inhale right, and exhale left, for 1 to 3 minutes.
When you are a beginner don’t push, sit till until you feel relax, if you get tired or feel any discomfort, simply take a break and try again.
This exercise increases heat in your body and increases the digestive power. It helps to alleviate dullness, lethargy and depression. Furthermore it brings fresh energy to the body so you can perform physical activities more efficiently. It also makes the mind more alert and perceptive and it is a good pre-meditation pranayama practice. At last it is useful in treating low blood pressure and infertility in women.
Contraindications:
Do you suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure or epilepsy, did you undergone abdominal surgeries or brain surgeries? Than you should avoid this pranayama (please consult a medical expert or consultant).
If you have any questions about this breathing exercise, than you can always contact me :)
Enjoy staying warm
