I know I say it a lot, but so much of yoga really is about the breath. Breath work can be so instrumental in our everyday lives; breath work can energize us, it relaxes us, it can soothe headaches, it can help fall asleep more easily. Breath work can also help clear our nasal passages and with cold and flu season upon us, this can be particularly helpful. Here’s two breathing techniques to help clear our a stuffy or runny nose.
Breath of Fire:
Find a comfortable seated position
Begin a slow and deep inhale (through your nose if you can)
Taking several exhales for each inhale, exhales should be quick, sharp, through the nose and vigorous, contracting your abdominal muscles.
Repeat two to five rounds of this breath (round of breath = one inhale and one set of exhales)
Bellows Breath (Bhastrika):
Take a few deep breaths into the abdomen
Start exhaling forcefully through your nose, activating the abdominals.
Follow the exhale with a deep inhale, equal in length and force.
Build to one round of breath per second. (round of breath = one inhale and one exhale)
NOTE: Always have tissues nearby!
If you have any questions about these or would like to see an example, come see me at Numa on Saturdays or email me a yogawithleah2017@gmail.com.
Thanks,
Leah
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