Although there are many benefits to learning how to use all the muscles of breathing, and to learn to breathe in many ways, in the more advanced stages of yoga it is the art of breathing less than normal (hypoventilation) that gives the most physiological benefits. The less you breathe in and out the more you will build up carbon dioxide …
Breathing (Part 2): Passive Seated Pranayama: Generate Internal Energy by Doing Less than Nothing
With a good understanding of the anatomy and physiology of breathing, it is possible to create energy by doing less than nothing. That is to say that if you think doing nothing means simply lying down and relaxing then you can actually do less than nothing by breathing less than you would normally do in that situation. According to popular …
To Breathe or Not to Breathe!
Breathing less than normal can calm the nervous system, decrease appetite and cause more oxygen to be transported to the brain. Breathing more than normal can have some beneficial effects too, however it also can make you feel dizzy, jittery and hungry. It is also better to keep breathing exercises and physical exercises separate until one is firmly established in the physical exercises. Once one no longer needs to focus on …
Spinal Movement Sequence (Part 23): Why to Breathe Less than Normal in Yoga
This video is Part 23 of a YogaSynergy Spinal Movements Sequence taught by physiotherapist and Director of Yoga Synergy, Simon Borg-Olivier, which he teaches in person in courses throughout the world as well as Online in courses at RMIT University and Online in courses at YogaSynergy called Yoga Fundamentals and Applied Anatomy and Physiology of Yoga. In this part, Simon …
Secrets of advanced breath-control (pranayama) with internal locks (bandha), energy-control gestures (mudra) and internal cleansing (kriya)
This is a video segment on breath-control exercises (pranayama) and in particular breath retention (kumbhaka) with internal locks (bandhas) from a workshop I was invited to teach in June 2012 in Moscow by the really amazing teachers and students of the Yoga 108 School in Moscow and Wild Yogi Magazine. Along with fellow physiotherapist and co-director of Yoga Synergy, Bianca Machliss, I …
My best meditation ever – Simon Borg-Olivier
SCIENCE EXPERIMENT: My best meditation ever after first holding my breath in for 6 minutes: My breathing was scientifically tested in a laboratory at RMIT University. I was hooked up to a calorimeter with a gas mask to measure energy use in terms of the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels In my expired air. THE EXPERIMENT: 1. Breathe more than …
Bandha questions
Posted on our facebook site by Peter Satitpunwaycha on March 5, 2009 at 12:22am Hi Simon, I was wondering if you could answer a couple of questions regarding bandhas. Please feel free to take you time as I know you’re quite busy! – When I watch you do various asanas in the advance sequence, you apply a lot of uddiyana bandha. …
Control your tongue!
* I love doing tongue exercises. They are beneficial for you in so many ways. * The tongue is like the diaphragm in a special way. It is a ‘bridge’ between conscious and unconscious. * The tongue is also the end of the acupuncture meridians for the kidney. * It is often said that your ‘breathing’ can be a link …
Yoga and Smoking – How to reduce your urge to smoke
SIMPLE BREATHING EXERCISES TO COMPENSATE FOR THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SMOKING AND TO REDUCE THE URGE TO SMOKE If you are smoker and don’t want to actually give up right now here are some simple things you can do to address some of the negative effects of smoking. The essence of yoga is ‘balance’ and ‘mental flexibility’. I feel that …
Do you really understand CO2? Part 2
In this video (part 2) Simon talks about the benefits of holding your breath out. Here he demonstrates holding his breath completely out and practicing nauli (rectus abdominis isolation) and lauliki (abdominal churning using rectus abdominis as well as the oblique muscles) while expanding the chest as if inhaling to the chest but not actually inhaling. This practice, which is …