Pranayama - Breathing Techniques for Beginners

This section gives an overview of the Breathing Techniques for the Beginner. Yoga Breathing or Pranayama revitalizes the body, steadies the emotions and creates great clarity of mind. Before practicing the exercises, you should be sure that you understand how to breathe correctly and how to make full use of the diaphragm. In order to facilitate the flow of Prana and ensure that there is space for expanding the lungs, Yoga Breathing exercises are performed sitting down with the spine, neck and head in a straight line - either in the Easy Pose, the Lotus Pose or if neither is comfortable, sitting on a chair.

Beginner Yoga Breathing Techniques

Kapalabhati and Anuloma Viloma are of equal importance in the Basic Session of Asanas and should form the backbone of your Pranayama. Practice them exclusively to begin with, before your daily set of Asanas.

Kapalabhati Kapalabhati is a Breathing Technique used specifically for cleansing. If you have a lot of mucus in the air passages or feel tension and blockages in the chest it is often helpful to breathe quickly. This article will introduce you to this breathing techniques and show you its its benefits. Anuloma Viloma Anuloma Viloma is also called the Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique. In this Breathing Technique, you inhale through one nostril, retain the breath, and exhale through the other nostril. Learn how to do this technique for beginners by following the steps found in this article.

Other Yoga Breathing Exercises

	Brahmari Bhramari or Nasal Snoring is more difficult than the usual mouth snoring. But with with enough practice and patience, you will eventually be able to perform this technique. If you are unsure where and how to start with Bhramari, then let this article help you.
	Sitkari Sitkari pertains to the sound made by drawing air in through the front teeth-either tightly closed or slightly opened-with the tongue tip regulating the air pressure and sound. Learn more about this technique in this article.
	Sithali The breathing technique Sitali or tongue hissing refers to the sound caused when air is drawn in through the protruding tongue folded into a tube. This basic breathing technique can be performed by following the steps found in this article.

As already mentioned above, Pranayama revitalizes one's body along with other benefits that a person gets by practicing it. We hope that the different breathing techniques featured above will help you kick start your practice of Pranayama. But more than just encouraging you to practice Pranayama more, we also hope that with its help, you will be able to achieve the goals of performing it - to achieve balance in your life.

Source: http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/pranayama/basic.asp