Introduction to Pranayama; Last premium yoga mat article we talked about pranayama and did a small introduction to the whole subject. It is important to remember a number of facts before we move on with this idea.
Number one -- A deep practice of Pranayama yoga is not going to the gym or doing aerobics.
Number two -- We must practice responsibly, as this practice of breathing moves things in our body and mind far beyond our grasp.
Number three -- This practice of Pranayama is the core of all yoga asanas and yoga poses
Number four -- It can be practiced off your premium yoga mat
The strong connection us westerners have created between the concept of yoga and poses is not so deep as it seems. Yoga, as many of us already know, is not only about the physical asanas, which are only a good tool for those of us, and actually most of us me included, who want to move on and make some sort of spiritual development and are choosing not to live a yogi life to the fullest. Pranayama is the one of the eight limbs of "Hatha yoga". Often it is considered as breathing exercise, but that perception is wrong as is the case with almost every other practice of Yoga. Every practice of yoga has a very subtle effect on human consciousness and does not limit only to physical health benefits. But still, we know that breath is very vital for sustaining life.
We rarely give any thought to the breathing process of ours as it occurs automatically without our awareness and yet most of us do it incorrectly. Now if breathing is a natural spontaneous process in our body, than how can we do it incorrectly? The answer is that due to continuously breathing in incorrect patterns, our respiratory muscles have become lazy and inefficient.