Three Part Breathing - Dirga Pranayama

Three Part Breathing - Pranayama (Breath Control): use your breath to control the flow of energy in the body and mind.  Any time you concentrate on your breath, you are doing yoga!

Dirga Pranayama (Three Part Breath or Complete Breath)

The Dirga or Complete Breath is a basic breathing technique that can be easily mastered and used all throughout your day, both on and off the yoga mat.  Although the Dirga Breath is sometimes called the three part breath, it is to be done with a smooth continuous flow of air into the body on the inhale and a smooth continuous release of the breath on the exhale.

How to do the Dirga Breath

• Sit up straight or lay back
• Begin to notice your breath
• Inhale and exhale through your nose
• Filling your belly, ribs and chest with air on the inhale
• Allowing your chest, ribs and belly to relax on the exhale.
• You can gently place your hands on your belly, fingertips touching
• As you inhale, filling your belly, ribs and chest with air, feel your fingers separate.
• As you exhale, allow your chest, ribs and belly to relax.  Your fingertips come back together