For people who are shy about speaking up, Simhasana pranayama is a great way to let out some noise. When you roar in Simhasana, your air should flow out freely. Do your best not to constrict the throat - this is all about freeing it up! The breath instead comes from contracting the abdominal muscles and the pelvic floor.
Diaphragmatic breathing is something we do instinctually. It’s also something we can easily do consciously. Just like other forms of mindfulness, diaphragmatic breathing can have far-reaching benefits, not the least of which is that breathing is good. And when you’re breathing with your diaphragm into the furthest reaches of your lungs, it can be even better.
Surprising as it may sound, buzzing like a bee can be just about the most relaxing, mind-numbing way to settle your head. When you breathe in the Humming Bee Breath manner, you'll quite literally set your brain abuzz.
This yogic breathing practice can help lower your body temperature and relax your thoughts. It has an overall calming effect on the nervous system, reducing anxiety and agitation. For those of us in SoCal with the pending heatwaves and wildfire season, this breath is a must-have. It brings cooling.
It is 1pm and 110F-ish. I'm hiding in the shade of a rock lip in Vasquez Park. I missed the desert. This post written before I cooked under the heat of the sun.
This is a combination of breathing and thinking. Not a lot of thinking, mind you! Just a bit to help your breath focus in a particular way. In exchange, this exercise doesn’t require you to maintain a set rhythm or muscular use. The focus here is not exactly how you breathe, but why.
Resonant breathing is a uniquely-paced breathing exercise. Rather than settling into a timeless rhythm or counting numbers, you’ll be sticking to a set number of complete breaths per minute. Resonant breathing, also known as coherent breathing, has been shown to maximize your heart rate variability (HRV).
Take a deep breath in, and then a deep breath out. Now do it one nostril at a time. Otherwise known as Nadi Shodhana Pranayama, nose breathing is just about one of the easiest, most healthy calming and meditation techniques on hand. As long as you're not congested.
Mindful Foliage 