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Ayurveda

Treatments: Breathing (Pranayama)

The Complete Breath
The complete breath is a combination of high, middle and low breathing. The complete breath is the deepest form of breathing possible, involving the entire respiratory system and expandsion of the lungs to their fullest capacity. It is usually done in a comfortably seated position, with an erect spine. With each inhalation, the belly is slowly expanded as air is drawn in deeply. The mid chest is then expanded, followed by the upper chest, as the intake of breath continues. At the height of the exhalation, a pause is held for several seconds.























With each exhale, the abdomen is drawn in and lifted as the breath begins to expel. After the breath is expelled from the abdomen, the chest then deflates to expel the remaining air in the mid and upper chest. The inhalation can be done to specific count of seconds, as with the exhalation. The number of seconds are increased as the lung capacity increases. This type of breathing is only done during breathing exercises as it may cause dizziness or light headedness.

Other popular breathing techniques include:

Ujjayi Kumbhaka (Conquering Breath)
While inhaling slowly and deeply through the nose, the back of the throat is contracted. A low yet uniform sound should be produced, similar to the sound of Darth Vader's breathing. A pause is held at the height of the inhalation. Exhalation is performed in the same manner. Variation of ujjayi breathing include breathing in through one nostril and out through the other, or breathing in through both nostrils and out through the left nostril.

Suryabheda Pranayama (Solar Breathing)
While sitting with the spine erect, the right thumb is placed on the right nostril, the index and middle fingers rest on the third eye and the ring finger is placed on the left nostril. The left nostril is closed while the air is slowly inhaled through the right nostril, into an expanded abdomen. The right nostril is then closed while the breath is slowly exhaled. The process is then repeated.

Chandrabheda Pranayama (Lunar Breathing)
Lunar breathing is performed by reversing the process of solar breathing, therefore the breath is inhaled through the left nostril and exhaled through the right nostril.

Breath of Fire
A deep breath is taken in through the nose, filling the abdomen. During the exhale, the abdomen is pulled back towards the spine in a rapid pumping motion. Air is pulled in and exhaled as sthe rapid pumping motion continues, with no break between the inhalation and exhalation (the sound is similar to the rapid pumping of a bellows). The shoulders and chests area remain unmoved throughout each breath.

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