Yoga and breathing exercises are said to be incredibly beneficial to one’s overall well-being. Pranayama, or breathing exercises, is one such technique. Some easy stretches before pranayama that help open up the body can aid improve breathing techniques during Pranayama.
Moving your spine in all directions before you begin your Pranayama exercise is an excellent technique to get the most out of it. In a basic approach, this opens up the body and warms up the spine. Give it a go!
Stretches before pranayama
Neck stretches up and down
Sit in a cross-legged position. Slowly raise and lower the neck.
Side-to-side stretching
Take the neck slowly from left to right and vice versa.
Stretching on the side
On each side, bend the neck.
Shoulder rotation
Turn the shoulders inwards and outwards. Each side of the body is stretched laterally. Bend your body to one side or the other.
Twist
Keep the right hand over the left knee in the cross-legged posture and twist to view a point on the back. Rep on the other side.
Forward bending
Bring your hands together. Bend forward while maintaining your spine straight.
Close and open the chest
To open and shut the chest, stretch the arms and produce the clap posture.
Here are some more things to think about stretches before pranayama
- Avoid making loud noises when breathing. Keep your breathing regular and steady.
- Unless expressly instructed, avoid breathing through your lips. Pranayama should not be done shortly after eating. Pranayama, on the other hand, maybe done at least three hours after meals.
- Always conduct breathwork under supervision.
