Breathing is the only bodily function that, despite being vegetative or involuntary, can also be voluntary. The body knows how to breathe, and it naturally breathes enough to maintain vital functions.
However, there is a lot of information and knowledge about breathing and its benefits that are not true, and can even bring harm to both the practice of yoga and health in the long term.
It is important to remember that breathing goes far beyond breathing in and out – it works like an orchestra that involves the brain, lungs, heart, blood and muscles in perfect harmony.
During the practice of yoga, the breath must continue with its primary function of bringing oxygen to the blood and, through the impact on the nervous system, help in the regulation of emotions.
During yoga practice, breathing changes naturally through movement, muscle activation, shifting between contraction and release, and the inner sense of peace, support, and breadth. This occurs unconsciously, without you having to intervene in the process.
Therefore, trying to breathe in a certain way is likely to inhibit many of the natural processes that postures establish during practice.
After many years of seeing our students In the yoga practice, we were able to conclude that every respiratory disorder is born of a nervous disorder. Therefore, our breathing reflects the moment we are in and the outside stimuli that are affecting our nervous system. Focusing on the present moment through complete attention, without trying to change our breathing pattern relieves stress. Therefore, paying attention to the breath makes most people play a positive response role in the processing of emotions and stress in the brain. Together with safe joint stimulation, breathing also provides a link to the nervous system and directly affects how we feel.