| Yoga is a 6000-year-old form of exercise which not | | | | associated with yoga which will teach you how to |
| only disciplines the body but conditions the mind as well. | | | | release tension and balance your mind, as a start, try |
| While the various asanas or exercises are the basic | | | | the following exercise. |
| building blocks of the practice of yoga, the breath is its | | | | 1. Lie or sit comfortably and become aware of your |
| very essence of it. Some go so far as to say, "If you | | | | normal state of breathing. |
| can breathe, you can do yoga." One of the main | | | | 2. Continue by being aware of your breath but make |
| reasons for this is that one of the main goals of yoga | | | | your inhalations and your exhalations 4 counts each |
| is to teach you to still and quiet your mind through the | | | | for several rounds. |
| use of your breath. | | | | 3. Now, increase your inhalation and exhalations to 5 |
| By practicing yoga on a regular basis, you get to know | | | | counts each. |
| your breath intimately. Not only will you learn about | | | | 4. Next, increase your inhalations and exhalations to 6 |
| proper breathing , which will soothe and relax you, but | | | | counts each. This time try to become aware of your |
| you will to bring your postures to life through the use of | | | | body making sure you are not tensed. |
| your breath. | | | | 5. Continue increasing your inhalations and exhalations |
| As human beings, our minds tend to wander into | | | | all the way up to 9 counts. If you feel that this is |
| thoughts of the past and the future. However, our | | | | causing you any stress, drop the count back down to |
| bodies exist only in the present. By practicing yoga, you | | | | a number that is comfortable for you. |
| will learn through your breath how to draw your mind | | | | 6. Keep bringing your mind back to your body to check |
| back to your body and abandon all of your worries. | | | | to see if there is any tension anywhere. If there is, try |
| One of the refreshing aspects about yoga is that, | | | | to relax that part of your body. |
| even if only for a minute, you are able to focus and | | | | 7. Whatever your final number of breaths is, continue |
| concentrate on the present, and you are learning to let | | | | breathing with long breaths for several rounds, then |
| go of the cares and concerns that can bring tension | | | | drop the counting and breathe naturally for 10 rounds. |
| and disease to your body. | | | | What you should discover from this exercise, as well |
| By practicing yoga, you will learn conscious breathing | | | | as with many of yoga's other breathing exercises, is |
| during yoga poses which will keep your mind alert and | | | | the ability to relax your thoughts and to still your mind |
| ever aware of your practice. You will learn how to | | | | so that you are present in your body. In time, you will |
| draw your mind to the present moment - allowing you | | | | eventually gain mastery over your breath so that you |
| to leave off all other thoughts. | | | | will be able to call on your breath to still your mind in |
| While there are a number of breathing exercises | | | | times of stress and tension. |