How many times have you heard someone say, "Just breathe." Usually, this is in the context of a distressing situation in which someone needs to relax.

Prana means “breathing forth” in Sanskrit. In this workshop, you will learn techniques and a variety of exercises for improving control and capacity of the respiratory system, how to increase levels of oxygen in the blood, and develop a deeper understanding of three-part breathing that is effective for constrictive poses.

(Sweet, 2021)

Breath is the driver for movement in for any physical activity, not just yoga. We create rhythmic movements as we create rhythm for our breath. This basic principle is the basis of movement in yoga, but not just physical movements. The quality, function, and control of breathing is directly impacted by the quality of thoughts, feelings, and emotions. That is, our breath reflects our state of mind.

In addition to the health benefits of increasing the lungs' capacity, learning how to concentrate on the breathing process allows us to better control our emotional states. As a participant in this course, you will learn about the aspects of pranayama as kriya yoga. That is, how this practice physically and mentally purifies us in preparation for reflection and meditation.

The first step in bringing awareness and control to the breath is to develop a more subtle understanding of the mechanics of breathing. By dividing up the action into four phases: inhalation, retaining, exhalation, suspension, and three physical portions: clavicular, intercostal, and diaphragmatic, we can establish the knowledge required for more advanced breathing techniques.

[***The connection of these elements are briefly explained through the image source.]
Sweet, M. (2021, August 19). The triangle and the bridge. Swell & Cut. https://swellandcut.com/2017/10/21/the-triangle-and-the-bridge/