Our breath is our greatest tool, not only in our yoga practice but in life in general. I mean without breath we'd be 6 feet under, right?
Breath is life. Whether we try to or not we are always breathing. Our breath patterns send a signal to our brain informing us if we are in trouble and can easily calm us down when we've reached an anxious state. Throughout our day we can easily come back to our breath as a source of grounding and focus. There is so much power in the breath!
In fact, the yogic practice of pranayama (concentration of breath) can make our skin more youthful. Pranayama works on the respiratory system while removing energetic blocks. It helps purify the blood and increases oxygen supply, all of which lead to glowing healthy skin.
So whether to calm your mind, solve a problem, or radiate from the inside out, the breath is the solution. Try these simple at-home practices and breathe yourself awake!
1. Nadi shodhana- sit in a comfortable seated position and place your left hand on your knee in chin mudra (thumb touching index finger/other fingers straight). With your right hand place your ring finger on your nose above nostrils and the same with the thumb on the opposite side (other fingers can relax). Breathe in from one nostril while keeping the other one blocked with finger and vice versa. Start by inhaling on your left side, exhaling on your right, inhale on your right, exhale on your left and so forth.
2. Bhastrika- Sit in a comfortable seated position and start with elbows bent and hands in a fist. Inhale forcefully through the nostrils and extend arms straight up, exhale forcefully through nostrils and bend arms back down. Repeat.
3. Kapalbhati- Sit in the normal sitting pose with legs folded or lotus pose. With forceful breathing throw out your breathe and breathe in softly. Try to do this for 5 minutes non-stop. Initially, it might be nearly impossible to do for almost 1 minute. But you have to pull it to 5 minutes as it will increase your stamina, fight hair fall, get you a flat belly as well as bless you with glowing skin!
If you are looking for more ways to breathe yourself awake join us in person with Rainbeau Mars as we tour LA for a 6 studio transformative wellness experience to heal from within this January & February 2020.
LOCATION AND DATES:
Alo Yoga Beverly Hills
1/11 2-3:30pm
370 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
OWL Venice
1/16 6:30-8pm
1613 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 902
Love Yoga
1/26 2-3:30pm
2110 Sunset Blvd, Echo Park, CA 90026
Yoga Collective
2/15 2-3:30pm
1221 2nd St Unit 150, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Green Heart Yoga
2/22 2-3:30pm
2260 Huntington Dr, San Marino, CA 91108
Liberate Hollywood
2/29 2-3:30pm
6365 Selma Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Sign up on studio website or email us directly at rsvp@rainbeaumars.com