Question about Deep Breathing / Yoga Breathing

[Gobias]

This is probably a very basic question for the majority, but I really don't know the answer!

I have recently taken up meditation or yoga that requires deep breathing from the diaphragm. I notice some videos state to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth, while others say to breathe in and out through the nose. Is one right or wrong or better? I want to get the most oxygen into my body and fill my lungs and diaphragm as much as possible.

I am NOT a mouth breather - I always breathe through my nose, therefore breathing in and out through my nose feels more comfortable, natural and I do it without thinking, whereas in through nose, out through mouth takes me out of meditative focus.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[Jane Power-Grimm]

Great question! I too have often wondered about this. I recently asked my massage therapist and he said that yoga style breathing (in and out through the nose) is good for relaxation and when you are stretching or cooled down and want to calm the body and mind. Athletic style breathing (in through nose, out through mouth) is good for vigorous work when you don't mind getting more revved up (e.g. cardio and heavy weight training). I tend to agree with him and use these two styles of breathing for these activities, but I would be interested in what other Cathletes have found.

 

[ChelePA]

This is probably a very basic question for the majority, but I really don't know the answer!

I have recently taken up meditation or yoga that requires deep breathing from the diaphragm. I notice some videos state to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth, while others say to breathe in and out through the nose. Is one right or wrong or better? I want to get the most oxygen into my body and fill my lungs and diaphragm as much as possible.

I am NOT a mouth breather - I always breathe through my nose, therefore breathing in and out through my nose feels more comfortable, natural and I do it without thinking, whereas in through nose, out through mouth takes me out of meditative focus.

Thanks for any insight.

Love this question. Took yoga for the first time at the Y and thought I heard her wrong when she said breathe out through the nose. After several times, I realized it wasn't a mistake

 

[Gobias]

yoga style breathing (in and out through the nose) is good for relaxation and when you are stretching or cooled down and want to calm the body and mind. Athletic style breathing (in through nose, out through mouth) is good for vigorous work when you don't mind getting more revved up

Yes, this makes sense to me. And also I find that when I deeply breathe in and out through the nose, it is more natural, comfortable, and relaxing. When I exhale through the mouth, it seemed more "forced" and took me out of the relaxation experience. It was almost as if I would be consciously thinking "Inhale through the nose with mouth closed. Now open mouth and exhale." Rather than just a natural flow of in/out through the nose. Not sure if that made sense.

Thanks for the feedback.