Connecting with your Breath

Breathing exercise before starting Yoga Practice

Cleansing breath: 3-4 rounds  

Feet are flat on the floor if sitting on a chair. Back straight and shoulders relaxed. Few rounds of cleansing breath- inhale through nose and exhale through mouth (big audible sigh with exhale)

Tuning with breath:

Both the hands on belly, just simply notice the movement of your breath by focusing on your hands moving with it. With inhale belly expands and with exhale it falls back.  Spend few mins watching your breath without trying to change anything.

Counted breath:

To balance breath, with your hands on your belly, count 4 when you slowly inhale and count 4 with slow exhale.  Gradually increase the count to

Tune in with your breath.  Watch your 6 counts. Keep your face and whole body completely relaxed.

Before starting movement:

breath again and notice any difference in quality of your breath. Set up the intention to do your best to maintain balance breath throughout yoga session.  Generally, inhale with expansion and exhale with contraction.

Spinal rolls-3 to 4 rounds

Start with your feet flat on floor, flat back, hands on knees. With big inhale, shine your heart forward, chin slightly tilt up, look up, hands slide back towards hip creases.

Exhale, slide your hands back to knees, chin tucked under towards chest, round your back and push belly button towards spine.

Articulate the movement of your spine with breath.