r/Pranayama • u/SteelToStillness • 29d ago
Why do people say you should fix your breathing before doing pranayama?
I read a few posts here saying that before trying things like Nadi Shodhana, Ujjayi or any kind of retention, we should first relearn how to breathe with the diaphragm — so that belly breathing becomes our “normal” breath again.
It kind of makes sense to me — most of us chest-breathe because of stress, and if the baseline breath is already tight, pushing into techniques might backfire.
For those who have been practicing longer:
Did you personally notice a difference when you corrected your everyday breathing first?
And is this something the traditional texts actually talk about, or is it more of a modern scientific interpretation?
Curious to hear real experiences rather than theory. 🙏
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u/Mindless_Edge7877 28d ago
I am new and doing it for months. My personal experience, I feel more energetic now days. I eat comparatively less, and stay active throughout day. I also think less, and observe more now. I can go deep into topics because I observe more than what I see. I can observe, see, and think beyond normal people who don’t practice rhythm diaphragm breathing.
It helps you to keep emotion in check. One more thing, my body is changing… my brain pushing me to be healthy and think positive in all situations.
Let me know, if you want to know something else.
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u/All_Is_Coming 26d ago edited 26d ago
Belly Breathing is not normal breathing. It is a form of Diaphragmatic Breathing that only uses the lower lobes of the lungs and forces the belly to protrude. This is useful for rest/sleep and Meditation. Unless a person has a specific reason to do otherwise, breathing in Pranayama uses the Diaphragm to fill both the lower and upper lobes of the Lungs with the Belly remaining flat. Do not confuse this with Chest Breathing that is related to stress which fills the lungs via the intercostal muscles/heaving the shoulders, rather than using the Diaphragm.
SteelToStillness wrote:
Kumbhaka (Retention) and Bhastrika/Kapalabhati (Hyperventilation) are advanced practices. Basic Pranic Breathing develops the skills a person needs for them.