Benefits
The word pranayama can be translated into English in two ways. There is a basic definition and a deeper definition. The basic definition is “breath control.” The deeper definition is “energy expansion.” By combining these two translations, we can see that the goal of pranayama is “energy expansion through breath control.”
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Most people don’t give much importance to the breath. However, you might be surprised at how powerful it is. Just to give a sense for the significance of the breath, here are a couple of amazing facts. First, 70% of our body's toxins are released through the breath. This means that if our breathing is not optimized, we’re basically building up toxic waste in our bodies. Second, the average adult lung capacity is 6 liters for males, and 4.2 liters for females. However, the average person only uses around 10% of their total capacity. So it makes sense that if we could improve our breathing even a little bit, it would have a big impact on our health and well being. Even our everyday experience supports the idea that the breath is a powerful tool – when someone is freaking out, our first line of advice is usually to “just breathe” or “take a deep breath.”
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Whether we breathe through our nose or our mouth, through our left or right nostril, to our full lung capacity or not, all of this affects our bodies in many ways. Pranayama works with all of these different ways of breathing to achieve a variety of health benefits.
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Some important benefits of pranayama include:
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Relaxes the mind, enabling you to focus more and perform better under pressure
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Improves mental clarity and focus, increasing productivity and attention span
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Increases oxygen intake efficiency improving energy, endurance, strength, and performance on the field
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Strengthens the respiratory muscles, expanding lung capacity and utilization
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Increases the body’s ability to efficiently and effectively remove toxins from the body
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In short, whether in the classroom, on the field, or at home, breathwork really is one of the best ways to improve a person’s well-being quickly, safely, and effectively. And, it is universally accessible to everyone at all times.
Testimonials
We loved the pranayama classes Ria taught us online! We love her energy and her enthusiasm to teach. I have practiced the techniques most days in the morning and every time I do, I feel great. I am so glad we had the opportunity to learn these powerful ancient techniques!
–Poornima K., Fischers, Indiana
I recently had the pleasure of learning pranayama from Ria, a young and talented teacher! For someone so young, I was impressed by her knowledge of and passion for pranayama. She was able to explain the concepts in a way that was easy to understand, and she provided clear and concise instructions for each breathing exercise. Immediately after our sessions I felt a sense of ease and mental focus.
–Deempal B., San Ramon, California
My family and I recently attended a 4-week pranayama breathwork class hosted and developed by Ria. Her expertise and genuine passion for using intentional breathing techniques to create positive results is inspiring. My family is currently applying our learnings from the class and feeling the results. Thank you Ria!!
–Kelly H, San Ramon, California
Ria Tandon's breathwork class is easy and fun, especially in groups, but don't let this fool you. Research shows that even basic breathing methods are an important gateway to not just a settled mind, but also a boon to overall health. In Ria's class, I learned that a mind-blowing 70% of toxins in our bodies are released through the breath. I also realized that I was not breathing anywhere close to how much I could be. When I tried Ria's whole-body yogic breathing, it felt like I was taking a breath of fresh air for the first time. It was oxygenating and enlivening to my entire body, not just my lungs. Ria's class has convinced me that breathwork is a key skill to master in our often-challenging lives. It helps to keep us out of fight-or-flight mode and has even deepened my own yoga practice. I highly recommend Ria's class for anyone looking to learn the basics of breathwork.
– Susan K., Kentfield, California