Yogic breathing is fundamental in yoga. Deep inhalation helps unite the mind and body with the breath. Laughing your heart during a laughing yoga class makes you breathe deeper without knowing. Therefore, this inhalation is voluntary, whereby the coach asks you to breathe deeper intentionally or involuntarily. Involuntary because it’s evident that we still reach those depths without focus. Laughing yoga uses laughter as the main exercise, which happens severally within a session. In between the bouts of laughter, The instructor requests yogic breathing to capture your concentration to help you feel your entire body mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. We highlight the connection between yogic breathing and laughter yoga below.
Yogic breathing
You do it by inhaling deeply via the nose, holding your breath for a few seconds before exhaling through the nose again. Yogic breathing involves several breathing techniques that have similar effects, but their complexity is different. During the first few days of the classes, the students practice the three-part breathing method to deepen their breaths. With time, the laughter yoga leader introduces advanced yogic breathing techniques, which the club does with ease.
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Benefits of yogic breathing during laughter yoga
Deep breathing is initiated most during the meditation phase. But, it generally is suitable in every stage of yoga. See a physician if you have a pre-existing medical condition to avoid injury. A few advantages are;
Heightened mindfulness
Laughing yoga involves the mind as much as the body. High attentiveness is needed to accomplish the tasks, whether you are performing the breathing technique or physical poses. You must pay attention to the leader’s cue to breathe in or out or how long to hold your breath. Also, listening to yourself breathe shuts out all other thoughts or distractions in your mind making it wander less. The improved mindfulness from yogi breathing helps regulate your emotions in the present moment.
Mind clearing
Laughter yoga typically gives you a sense of calmness and peace that is lacking in other exercises. Combined with deep breathing, it helps clear your mind and relieve you from everyday life’s stresses. During yogic breathing, there is an increase in blood flow hence the need for more oxygen. As high oxygen levels enter the body through the nose, carbon dioxide gas gets displaced and forced out of the body. What results from this are enhanced focus, cognitive brain function, and reduced anxiety.
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It makes the lungs stronger
It’s the reason why the sick are encouraged to take part in laughter yoga after being cleared by the physician. Yogi breathing encourages more air into the body forcing the blood vessels to dilate. More blood flows through hence better circulation and improved immunity resulting from the numerous leukocytes. Deep breathing also improves lung function and capacity. After several days in a laughter yoga class, you will take much deeper breaths than when you started.
Better sleep quality
How your body feels determines the kind of sleep, you’ll have. It’s impossible to have a good night ling sleep when stressed. In such cases, you find yourself tossing and turning all night, waking up as tired as you were. Yogi breathing during laughter yoga classes has a calming effect on your body. The low heart rate makes you feel relaxed, an essential aspect of good quality sleep.
In summary
Yogi breathing is an excellent tool for your laughter yoga practice. The conscious deep breaths allow you to reach levels you wouldn’t get with normal breathing. Your mind and body connect exceptionally and remain relaxed for better functioning. You can learn the various breathing techniques from a laughter yoga coach and then experience them for yourself later for a better and healthy life.
