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Five Basic Breathing Techniques to Calm Your Mind: Pranayamas

by Organic Spa Magazine

Breathing may seem like something we can do without thinking, but many of us don't know how to breathe correctly. 

As summer starts to unwind, don’t let your relaxed state of mind unwind with it. Kids returning to school and the relentless retail rush to the holidays can leave you stressed and removed from a focus on the present.

A simple, quick and easy method to calm your mind may be done by performing pranayamas. Pranayamas are breathing exercises that require concentration, allowing the body to energize and distress, and the mind to quiet. An ancient Ayurvedic practice, there is a range of pranayamas geared toward healing aspects of mind and body.

As with all exercise regimens, if you have health conditions, please consult your doctor before beginning your practice. Here are Organic Spa Magazine’s five basic breathing exercises for relaxation.

Ujjayi Pranayama 

Step 1: Begin with inhaling and exhaling through your nose.
Step 2: Then, bend your head down to block your flow of breath, inhale through your nose as long as possible and make a sound with your throat. Hold it for five seconds.
Step 3: Close your right nostril with your right thumb and exhale.
Step 4: Repeat as much as needed.

Anulom-Vilom Pranayama 

Step 1: Create a fist, then free your thumb, ring and pinky fingers. Using your thumb, close your right nostril and exhale slowly from the left.
Step 2: Then, inhale through the left and hold your breath for two seconds.
Step 3: Next, remove your thumb and use your ring finger to close your left nostril.
Step 4: Exhale through the right and inhale again. Hold for two seconds.
Step 5: Using your thumb again, close the right nostril and exhale from the left. Perform for two minutes.

Bhastrika Pranayama 

Step 1: Breathe in deeply through your nose and suck in your naval towards the spine.
Step 2: Then breathe out forcefully to let out all of your breath in one big exhale. Make sure your stomach is close to the spine, while inhaling.
Step 3: Perform this for one minute, then rest.

Kapalbhathi Pranayama

Step 1: Inhale normally through your nose, then forcefully exhale to expand your stomach and move it away from your spine. Perform for 2 minutes.

Bhramari Pranayama 

Step 1: Place your thumbs lightly over your ears, move your index fingers to the temples and use the remaining three fingers to close your eyes.
Step 2: Through your nose, slowly inhale and hold it.
Step 3: With your moth closed, create a humming noise by slowly exhaling. Repeat five times.

You can perform these basic pranayamas anywhere: at home, in the office or outdoors. While performing each pranayama, the mind will concentrate and leave little room for wary or restless thoughts. Just close your eyes, perform the pranayamas, and create an eternal summer for your mind.

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