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Learning Center: Daily Routines


The Complete Breath

The practice of The Complete Breath is used to absorb a much greater amount of oxygen than what is received during mainstream, shallow breathing. It is also used to oxygenate the body which assistss in ridding the body of waste products and toxins. In Sanskrit, deep breathing techniques are known as “pranayama,” loosely translated to mean “the expansion and mastery of vital energy.”

The Complete Breath should be practiced in an environment of fresh clean air. It is done through the nostrils only, therefore it is important to clear the nasal passages as much as possible before beginning.

Before beginning formal breathing exercises, at least one hour should have passed since eating so that the body is not focused on the digestion process.

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.

When first practing, this type of breathing should be continued for several minutes at a time, and should only done during formal breathing exercises as it may cause dizziness or light headedness when continued for longer periods of time.


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