The breath is integral to the practice of Kundalini yoga. The breath is the vehicle by which the powerful kundalini energy may be carried. In the practice of the yoga asanas, or postures, coordinating the breath with each movement both deepens the practitioner's awareness of this “life force” and carries them through any mental obstacles or discomfort brought up through the exercise. In addition, the focus on the breath both provides a center for one-pointedness and “fires” up the internal kundalini energy. As a student of Kundalini yoga, one learns a variety of breath control techniques. These practices are referred to as “pranayama”, the word being broken into two parts: prana meaning “the first unit” and ayama meaning “expansion.” The slightest change in the breathing pattern can create a huge impact. By changing the breath in its depth, ratio or rhythm you can change the state of your own consciousness, which in turn will change the way you respond to your daily life experiences. During the practice of pranayama, one will sooner or later experience pratyahara, or “suspension of the breath.” This does not mean that the practitioner quits breathing. However, it is a noticeable shift in the length of each breath and the period of time between each breath. A moment of stillness is created between each inhalation and exhalation. At this stage there is actually a change in the brain wave patterns. The stillness creates a doorway or bridge between the external practice of yoga, (i.e. asanas, breathing exercises) and the internal practice of concentration, meditation, and ultimately the experience of superconsciousness or samadhi. This same stillness creates an opportunity for the kundalini energy to heal and to increase our awareness at deeper and deeper levels.

The simple practice of long deep breathing can have many positive effects: it will lengthen the life, cleanse the body of toxins, relax and calm, help fight depression, increase lung capacity, increase intuition, bring clarity and patience to the mind, and help keep the emotions neutral. The sages of old taught that we are all given the same number of breaths, but because of lifestyle choices we diminish and use up our breath faster. If a person is overweight or is a smoker for example, the breath is more shallow and faster. In other words the breath is used up faster. We can therefore lengthen our life by lengthening our breath with the regular practice of pranayama. Most people are unaware that they are breathing only into the top one third of their lungs. When I instruct new students, I have them envision their lungs as a pitcher that will be filled with water. On each inhale they will fill the pitcher from the bottom all the way to the top, and on the exhale they will empty the pitcher from the top all the way to the bottom. I point out that the alveoli inside the lungs are filled with tiny capillaries, which carry oxygen into the bloodstream. If the alveoli were to be flattened out, they would cover an area 1/2 the size of a football field. This is a powerful visual aid in helping us to understand the role that our breath has in helping us to stay healthy. As we oxygenate the bloodstream, bringing its life-giving force deeper into the internal organs, toxins are released and flushed out through the bloodstream. In this way the breath helps us to stay healthy.

Breathing deeply with control can also help us to stay mentally and emotionally balanced. Imbalances in breathing will disturb physiological functions of the body, which feeds such physical disturbances as asthma, migraine headaches, and hypertension, to name a few. Recognizing the flow of the breath is the first step. Just sitting quietly, with focused attention, observing shallow or irregular breathing, can bring some correction. As you increase your sensitivity, your awareness is increased. As your awareness increases, so you begin to physically relax into the practice, the mind beginning to release its grip on, and attachment to, certain thoughts, ideas, or fantasies. Over a lifetime, traumatic experiences, whether mental, emotional, spiritual or physical, may be held and locked into the physical body. We experience this as dysfunction both within the physical body and in our mental make-up.

As the mind begins to relax, there comes with it a certain clarity of thought. This in itself helps improve our intuition and decision making process. As we move through life, it seems all those voices of school and religious teachers, parents, friends, etc. begin to crowd tighter and tighter into the space of our mind until we no longer know our own mind. Our decisions become a function of what others think is the right thing to do. As we relax the breath, we begin to fade out the clatter of these other voices, bringing our own truth to the fore. We begin to just know the right thing to do. It is amazing how many yoga students begin to make major life changing decisions after a few months of yoga practice (with lots of deep breathing, of course).

One of the “side effects” of all this deep breathing, is that the beginner will usually experience dizziness or light-headedness because they aren’t used to the level of oxygen that is introduced into the body. The lungs, just like any muscle in the body, build up their endurance through regular practice, and the symptoms will subside in a very short time. Typically, people will notice a change in their breathing pattern and endurance within the first few weeks of practice. As endurance increases, aerobic capacity also increases. As a result, people with an active lifestyle find that a regular practice of pranayam will enhance other activities.

All of these manifestations of correct breathing ultimately affect the energy centers, or chakras. As the kundalini energy begins to rise, these energy centers begin to open and expand as our conscious awareness also expands. With the expansion of awareness and the opening of the energy centers, we find our tolerance for dysfunction and dis-ease in our life lessened. We can never go back to our former state of existence.

Breath is the barometer of our energy and vitality as we age. It is the foundation of our awareness and our moods. Without it we would die, yet we pay little attention to it. Very little time is required to master the breath, yet it can enhance every aspect of our life.