Nasal Breathing

Are you a mouth breather?  Do you breathe short, shallow breaths?  Do you feel overly stressed and anxious often?

If you answered yes to any of these questions you should consider why yoga and Ayurveda encourage nasal breathing. Here’s a list of reasons why you should practice nasal breathing each and every day.

*Nasal breathing increases breath into the lower lungs allowing for proper movement of the diaphragm which massages our abdominal organs improving digestion, decreasing reflux. 

*Activation of the lower lobes of the lungs, which have more blood, removes more carbon dioxide waste out of the body more efficiently.

*Proper movement of the diaphragm decreases tension in our pelvic floor which serves as a hammock for all of our pelvic organs.

*When you breathe through the nose it encourages the rib cage to also move when you breathe. This massages the heart and lungs to work more effectively and helps to optimize lymphatic flow.

*Nasal breathing increases the production of nitric oxide which regulates blood pressure, stimulates hormone release, and suppresses pathogens.

*Nasal breathing lowers the heart rate and allows for better endurance and shorter recovery times when exercising.

But wait there’s more…

*Nasal breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, our rest and digest state, and produces more alpha brain waves as seen in meditative states.

*Nasal breathing creates full rib cage activation which is important for elasticity and flexibility of the spine.

*The nose contains cilia that filter germs and bacteria we breathe in before it enters our lungs, keeping you healthier overall!

If you want to learn about the many yoga therapy breathing techniques there are and which ones will benefit you the most, inquire about a private yoga therapy session! Yoga therapy is a one on one approach to your health that will help you reach your health goals. Schedule a free 15 minute phone consult here. You can also check us out on Youtube and see some breathing techniques we have posted just for you! Don’t forget to subscribe and follow us!