The significance of proper breathing in yoga
If you teach yoga or have been practicing for a few years, common misunderstandings may lead you to believe that breathing into the belly or exhale through the mouth is good practice. Every yogi is taught to acknowledge the importance of breath yet the way we breathe is rarely questioned.
The 5th century Sanscrit manual Hatha Yoga Pradipika explains that:
“The mind is the king of the senses and that breath is the king of the mind.”
As long as breathing is dysfunctional though, our mind will continue to race and chatter, no matter how much we crave stillness.