The practice of yoga, which goes back over 6000 years, not only improves the body but also the mind.
While the various asanas or exercises are the basic building blocks of the practice of yoga, the breath is its very essence. Some go so far as to say, “If you can breathe, you can do yoga.” One of the main goals of yoga is to teach you to still and quiet your mind through the use of your breath.
The regular practice of yoga will make you intimately acquainted with yoga. You’ll learn proper techniques for breathing which will produce relaxation and stress relief and also help you to achieve better posture.
As human beings, our minds tend to wander into thoughts of the past and the future. However, our bodies exist only in the present. By practicing yoga, you will learn through your breath how to draw your mind back to your body and abandon all of your worries.
One of the refreshing aspects about yoga is that, even if only for a minute, you are able to focus and concentrate on the present, and you are learning to let go of the cares and concerns that can bring tension and disease to your body.
By practicing yoga, you will learn conscious breathing during yoga poses which will keep your mind alert and ever aware of your practice. You will learn how to draw your mind to the present moment - allowing you to leave off all other thoughts.
Yoga has many breathing exercises which combat tension and bring a balanced mental state - to begin with, try this exercise.
* Lie or sit still in a comfortable position and be aware of your breathing.
* Be aware of your breath while you inhale and exhale, counting to four each time. Do this several times.
* Next, increase your inhalation and exhalations to 5 counts each.
* Then increase the count to 6 for each inhalation and exhalation. Become aware of your body - make sure that it is relaxed.
* Continue increasing the count of your breathing until you get to nine. If you start to feel stressed, drop back down to a number that is more comfortable.
* Keep bringing your mind back to your body to check to see if there is any tension anywhere. If there is, try to relax that part of your body.
* However high a count you managed to attain with your breathing, maintain that number for a few more rounds, then stop counting and just breathe naturally for ten rounds.
What you should discover from this exercise, as well as with many of yoga’s other breathing exercises, is the ability to relax your thoughts and to still your mind so that you are present in your body. In time, you will eventually gain mastery over your breath so that you will be able to call on your breath to still your mind in times of stress and tension.