Spring Breathing

​Spring blooms and spring winds can kick up spring allergies. This affects our breathing this time of year. It’s a good idea to use a neti pot in the morning or evening to irrigate the nasal passages. This practice will wash away allergens so they don’t sit in the nose and irritate you for hours. This is also a good time of year to establish a regular breathing routine that can help the body tackle seasonal allergies.

There are many types of pranayama (yogic breathing practices) taught in yoga classes, but there are two specific types that are most helpful in the spring. 

The first type is made up of stimulating, warming and energizing breath practices used to counteract the heavy, stuck, dull qualities of kapha dosha (check out the last post for more on the qualities of the season). Three good choices are right nostril breathing (breathing in and out only through the right nostril), bellows breathing and skull shining breath. The last two are best learned from a qualified yoga teacher. Here’s a modified bellows breath:

Sit on the edge of a chair or cross-legged on the floor. Sit up tall with a long spine. Place your hands on your knees. First, establish a calm and regular breathing pattern for about a minute. To breathe like a bellows, breathe in as you open your chest and roll your shoulders back. Breathe out as you round your back, tuck your chin and draw your shoulders forward. Make the breaths long and full. Practice for a minute. Rest for a minute. Practice for another minute. At the end your body will feel warmer and your mind will be more alert.

The second type of pranayama for the spring reduces congestion in the head—ears, nose, sinuses, throat—and relieves seasonal allergies. The most accessible options are humming and chanting OM. And it’s so easy to do: Take a deep breath in, then heartily hum or chant OM on the exhale. Practice in the car, in the shower, or outside while you’re enjoying the seasonal blooms. 

Healthy breathing = Happy spring!