Yoga teaches how, through breath-control, to still the mind and attain higher states of awareness. By practicing 'yogic' breath, you consciously inhale and exhale long breaths and become mindful of the present moment in time.

The process of centering or focusing on the breath in yoga is called Pranayama. In yoga Pranayama is the third of the eight limbs of yoga and is critical to the practice.  The breath controls the mind and the mind controls the body.  The concept behind this breathing exercise is quite simple. In the process of practicing the breath, you must maintain a rhythm of the inhale and the exhale of the breath. When the air moves in the body, it creates harmony. To establish a rhythm focus on establishing an equal tempo of the inhale and the exhale pausing briefly at the end of each.

"Yoga works primarily with the energy in the body, through the science of pranayama, or energy-control. Prana means also ‘breath.’ Yoga teaches how, through breath-control, to still the mind and attain higher states of awareness. The higher teachings of yoga take one beyond techniques, and show the yogi, or yoga practitioner, how to direct his concentration in such a way as not only to harmonize human with divine consciousness, but to merge his consciousness in the Infinite." Paramahansa Yogananda

Yoga can be practiced by practicing yogic breath.  It is experienced by consciously exhaling long breaths through your nose. Feel the exhale on your upper lip. Then inhale slowly through the center of both nostrils. Pause. Repeat the experience. If your exhale was shallow, try an “ahhh” breath exhaling the sound “ahhh” to really experience and feel the length of your exhale.  Then do it several times through your nose again. Be totally aware of how you feel. Now the yoga begins, and you are practicing the yoga, simply by observing and experiencing your breath. 

 
Mindful or conscious breath brings your awareness to the present moment in time. This type of breathing is essential to health because the practice demands your attention to this moment, the present where nothing else exists. Yoga philosophy claims we each have a certain number of breaths per lifetime. How we choose to use these breaths then becomes our practice of longevity. Here in the west, we have discovered that stress is related to diseases and that long deep breathing reduces stress. After all, breathing is the first thing we do when we are born and the last thing we do when we die. Practice observing your breath as often as possible. 

To begin the practice of centering on the breath in yoga, sit in a way that you are comfortable with your spine straight. You need to hold this position for a few minutes initially and then longer so be sure you are comfortable.  If you are in a chair, it is best to take off your shoes and rest the soles of your feet flat on the floor. Lengthen your spine without causing additional tension or stress. Lengthening both sides of your neck so that your ears are over your shoulders and your chin is level to the floor, melting your shoulder blades down your back and away from your spine. Soften your throat and your face muscles.  The top of your head is reaching away from the base of your spine. Be still, soft and open and most importantly breathe.
 
By Christina Leon, Staff Writer