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Pranayama | Breathing Techniques to Soothe Your Soul

February 20, 2019 2 min read

For those of you who are unfamiliar with pranayama, it is a pillar of yoga practice and healthy lifestyle.

In sanskrit, 'prana' translates to life-force, and 'ayama' means to draw out the breath. So, the practice of pranayama is purposeful breathing.

Pranayamas are varieties of yogic breathing techniques meant to center and calm the mind. Certain pranayamas have different effects, but this is the overall goal.

If you think about it, breathing is the most important nourishment we have. We can go days, even weeks without food or water, but only minutes without air.

We are also the only species on Earth that has conscious control over our breathing, and this is no mistake. Humans are powerful beings that have massive impact on the environment and energy fields around them.

There are dozens of pranayamas, but I would like to focus on one today; the Wim Hof Method.

This method is simple, yet extremely effective. Basically, this method hyper-oxygenates the body, making the blood very alkaline. As a result, inflammation lowers, as does the heart rate and anxiety.

Here's how you do it:

1. Inhale & exhale through the mouth, being sure to inhale much more than you exhale.
2. Repeat this breath 30 times.
3. On the 30th exhale, hold for as long as you can.
4. When you feel the need to breathe in, take a deep inhale, and hold for 15 seconds, squeezing the core and neck muscles.
5. Release, and repeat 2 more times.

That's it! This is currently my favorite pranayama that I practice every morning.

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You can read much more about different pranayamas for energizing, calming the mind, and much more through a multitude of yogic texts.

What are your favorite pranayamas? Let me know in the comments!

Have a beautiful day,

Dan
Author / Ice Man / Yoga Instructor / Vegan
Vinaya