When it comes to maintaining your health, both physical and mental health hold an equal amount of importance. Both of these states are interdependent; bad physical health hurts your mental health and vice versa. A balanced routine should consist of beneficial exercises, a nutrient-packed diet and most importantly, Pranayam to make breathing exercises a daily ritual.
Pranayam is a breath control practice that is an integral part of yoga. Here, you coordinate your movements with your breathing patterns to better control your mind and body. Here are 5 different Pranayama techniques you should add to your daily fitness routine:
- Nadi Shodhana Pranayama (Alternate-Nostril Breathing): You can do this by sitting down in a comfortable position with your legs folded. Bring your right hand up to your nose, block the right nostril with your thumb, place your ring and little finger at an angle away from your face, slowly inhale through your left nostril. Now, block your left nostril with your ring finger and exhale deeply through your right nostril. Repeat this a few times.
- Kapalabhati Pranayama (Breath of Fire or Skull-Shining Breath): Sit down in a comfortable position. Rest your hands on your knees in a meditative posture. Close your eyes, relax your whole body and take a deep breath in. Feel your chest expand with the breath and then let it out in forceful exhalations. Keep breathing in calmly and exhaling in quick, forceful exhales. This is an excellent Pranayam to stimulate your organs in beneficial ways.
- Ujjayi Pranayama (Ocean Breathing): Settle down comfortably and inhale and exhale equally while constricting your throat to create a soft, rushing sound that sounds like the ocean. This can be done as if you’re trying to fog up a mirror in front of you but with your mouth closed. The breath control technique in this Pranayam helps you focus better.
- Shitali Pranayama (Cooling Breath): Sit down with your legs folded comfortably. Stick your tongue a little out of your mouth and roll it inwards like a tube. Close your eyes and inhale deeply; hold for as long as possible. Now, take your tongue in and stick it to the roof of your mouth while you exhale through your nostrils. The main aim of this Pranayam is to reduce the impact of stressors and negative thoughts.
- Bhramari Pranayama (Humming Bee Breath): Sit with your legs folded and back straight. Lift both your hands up, block your right ear with your right thumb and your left ear with your left thumb. Now, block your nostrils with your pinkies and keep the rest of your fingers on your eyes. Breathe in and out while making a humming bee sound. The deep vibrations resonate within your mind and help eliminate anger, stress, anxiety and improve memory.
While these may sound easy enough to practice, you may require some guidance to get it just right. Opt for cult.fit Pranayam pack, with sessions, curated explicitly by professionals. With this pack, you can take better care of your mind and body, so get started!
