Many of you know May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In many ways, Yoga is the perfect topic to discuss this month. There have been many studies showing the health benefits of yoga, from the physical benefits of asana to the mental health benefits of meditation. One thing that may not get as much attention is Pranayama and the mental and physical benefits of the various Pranayama practices.
Pranayama, as B.K.S. Iyengar calls it, is the yogic art of breathing. In his book, Light on Pranayama, Iyengar says “Pranayama is a conscious prolongation of inhalation, retention, and exhalation. The practice of Pranayama develops a steady mind, strong will-power, and sound judgement.” Pranayama is one of the eight stages of yoga, an integral part of any practice.
There are many different types of Pranayama practices. Some are great for increasing energy, some are great for bring about a sense of calm, and others are great for creating balance. Generally when it comes to breath practices, if the focus is on longer inhales and shorter exhales, these types of Pranayama increase energy and bring a little heat to the body. If the exhale is longer than the inhale, these Pranayama practices bring a sense of calm to the body, triggering our parasympathetic nervous system, our body’s natural calming system. A more even breath, inhale to exhale, bring energetic balance to our systems.
As we wrap up Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to offer a few Pranayama practices that have helped me in my own mental health journey as I’ve grown my yoga practice.
- Nadi Sodhana – this has been the most helpful to maintain calm and still my mind. Whenever I’m feeling stressed or anxious, this pranayama practice helps bring me back to the present.
- Kapalabhati – great for when I’m feeling low in energy, helps me start the start with a little bit of exhilaration.
- Diaphramatic Breathing – this was very useful to me during panic attacks and when I was in triggering situations. It helped me feel grounded and connected to the present moment.
I practice these Prayanama techniques fairly regularly and have seen a significant improvement in my mental health. I hope they help you too!
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