Local yoga breathing

Local breathing helps increase lung capacity while calms the body and mind. Local breathing can be used as a precursor to full yoga breathing.

Inhale into the lower lungs

Place your fingers flat on either side of your navel and place your elbows on the floor. Breathe 3 times and let your fingers feel the ups and downs of your abdomen.

Inhale into middle lung

Place your fingers flat on either side of your chest. Breathe 3 times, feel your chest expand to both sides when you inhale, and relax when you exhale.

Inhale into upper lungs

Place your fingers flat under your clavicle. As you inhale, feel the top of your chest rise slightly. Relax your shoulders and do not lift or tighten your shoulders.

Full yoga breathing

Lay your arms flat on your sides, with your palms up or down. Inhale once, first inhale air into the lower abdomen, then into the chest cavity, and finally into the upper chest. Exhale and relax.

Yoga breathing can be effectively combined with relaxing postures such as lying down. (Internship Editor: Wu Jinyu)