- What is the breathing pattern we should adopt for forward bending asana?
Exhalation on downward bend, making room for going into the motion as deep as possible with a lifted diaphragm.
- What is the breathing pattern we should adopt for backward bending asana?
The most ideal breathing pattern for backward bending asana is to inhale on the upward movement, allowing for an outward expansion in the torso and an extension in the spine. - What is the breathing pattern we should adopt for lateral bending asana?
The breathing pattern most ideal for lateral bending asana is inhalation when standing upright and exhalation when bent on either side.
- What is the breathing pattern we should adopt for twisting asana?
Exhale as you move away from your core and engage it in a twist, and inhale as you come to neutral.
- What is the breathing pattern we should adopt for arm balancing asana?
Exhale while bearing the weight on arms, and inhale when relaxing.
- What is the breathing pattern we should adopt for axial extension asana?
Inhale as you extend upwards, and exhale as you return back to the plant your feet on the ground. - Why we should breathe.
We should breathe into our poses as it allows us to experience a deeper stretch. It also helps deal with the muscle fatigue of practice, reducing the amount of muscular pain experienced.
- Why we should breathe in nose, why not in mouth.
When one breathes through the mouth, particulate matter is not filtered out, nor is the air inhaled humidified. These are two functions carried out by the nose hair and mucous lining present in the nasal passage. As we breathe through the mouth, this process does not occur.