The most important part of yoga practice is the ability to breathe deeply and fully. Proper breathing is vital to our health, mental focus and sense of calm.
In this free, introductory class, Kavita guides you through simple techniques to bring fullness to your breath; these techniques are useful both on and off the yoga mat. [...]

Ancient yogis discovered that we don’t breathe through both nostrils at the same time and that each of our nostrils share characteristics of brain hemisphere dominance: for instance, when we breathe through the left nostril, the right side of the brain (creativity) is dominant and when we breathe through the right nostril our left brain [...]

This quick, refreshing pranayama instantly lifts your spirits and clears your mind of negative thoughts and tension. The first portion of this practice is a breathing exercise, followed by a Zen inspired relaxation sequence using small stone to help focus your concentration (you may also use a crystal, bead or other small sacred object). Be [...]

This pranayama exercise is great for clearing negativity from the mind and the body, ventilating the lungs and cleansing the system. This is also known as the Whistle Breath, due to the sound you make while inhaling and the fact that you purse your lips as though you are about to whistle.
You can do this [...]

Also known as the Dirgha Pranayama, this is a more advanced form of the Full Yogic Breath and should only be done after you are comfortable with basic pranayama and yogic breathing – it takes strong lungs to do this breath and you should work up to it over the course of a few weeks, [...]

The Full Yogic Breath is at the core of yoga practice. When you learn to breath from your deep belly instead of your chest you increase your lung capacity, increase circulation, send more oxygen to the brain and reduce stress and tension quickly and effectively. Duration: 4.5 min
Benefits: reduced tension, increased lung capacity and circulation, [...]

The Retained breath is an extension of the Full Yogic Breath and serves two basic functions: it strengthens the lungs and allows them to clean out old oxygen, giving rise to a fuller, more energizing breath. This deeper breathing also benefits the nervous system and improves digestion. Kavita guides you through this short tutorial. Duration: [...]

The Full Yogic Breath with Retention is at the core of yoga practice. When you learn to breath from your deep belly instead of your chest you increase your lung capacity, increase circulation, send more oxygen to the brain and reduce stress and tension quickly and effectively. Duration: 3.5 min
The Full Yogic Breath with Retention [...]

This breath is called Kapalabhati in Sanskrit – ‘Kapala’ means skull and ‘Bhati’ means to clean or shine. This pranayama is very purifying and stimulating.
Through the rapid succession of sharp expulsions of the breath the nasal passages are cleaned and purified, this breath uses powerful contractions of the abdominal muscles as well, toning the belly. [...]

Sometimes in our day-to-day life we get a bit hot-headed about things – even the coolest cucumber occasionally feels hot under the collar. The cooling breath is designed to do just what it suggests – cool the body, mind and spirit. Duration: 5 min
In Sanskrit this is called the Shitali Pranayama and it is especially [...]

If the Full Yogic Breath is the foundation of breathing in your practice, then Diaphragmatic Breathing is the foundation of the breath in general. When you shift your breath from the upper chest to the diaphragm, you increase the quality of your breath, the amount of oxygen to your blood and calm focus in your [...]

Ianna will guide you through this pranayama which creates a bellows style action in the chest and abdomen that is both purifying and energizing. Duration: 8 min
Benefits:invigorating, purifying, energizing, increases lung capacity, tones abdominals
Contraindications: do not perform this pranayama if you are pregnant, menstruating, have untreated high blood pressure; also, avoid if you are recovering [...]

The Ocean Sounding Breath is also known as Ujayii Breathing, Victory Breath or, for the cheeky yogi – the Darth Vader Breath. To create the proper “hah” sound, hold your hand up to your mouth and exhale as if trying to fog a mirror. Inhale the same way. Notice how you constrict the back of [...]