Take a Deep Breath by Shyamala Ravi

Shyamala Ravi, Certified Yoga teacher

We met accidentally at a friend’s place, but didn’t realise this chance meeting had a lot to offer!

Shyamala is a dear friend of mine who has aced the art of yoga, meditation and has a deep sense of belonging.

I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity of attending her yoga sessions. I learnt a lot from my interaction with Shyamala. I especially loved the class where she taught me how to focus on breath and let go of all the tensions, emotions and to just focus on that very moment. It felt priceless!

A certified Yoga teacher here in Perth; Shyamala offers both group yoga classes & one-on-one sessions. Shyamala was kind enough to share some of her yoga tips through my blog.

Please do post your comments and feedback for Shyamala through my blog. If you wish to contact her for Yoga lessons please click here.

Take a Deep Breath by Shyamala Ravi

It is so amazing that we take so many things for granted. Just the other day, one of my yoga students who looked jeered and pale as she was narrating her story of an anxiety attack and her self-talk “take a deep breath” and everything will be alright” got me thinking.

We all have come across this phrase so often, by others and our own self. Indeed, it is a very profound statement in itself. As a yoga practitioner and meditator, I use different kinds of breathing techniques to strengthen my practice. Somehow, when I heard my student speak, it threw on a new interpretation to my practice. For eg., one of the breathing techniques called the ‘Anulom-Vilom’ alters our physical mental and emotional states to pleasant ones. Few, literally few, 5-6 rounds of ‘Anulom-Vilom’ helps to relax the muscles, nerves, slows down the heartbeat, fewer thoughts in the mind and generates pleasant emotions.

Taking a deep breath is all it takes to catapult our well-being to the next level. Mindful breathing 5-6 times every hour by the hour will impact positively to the very way we live and experience the world around us.

For the uninitiated, here are the simple steps.

  1. Lie down on a flat surface (yoga mat/carpet/mattress). Relax all the joints to ensure no muscles are not tight.
  2. Keep eyes closed.
  3. For few breaths, simply observe the movement of the abdomen with each inhalation and exhalation.
  4. Try to breathe in to a count of 4 (taking it up to 8 with regular practice) and breathe out slowly for a count of 4.
  5. Repeat it for 5-6 times per sitting.
  6. Scan the body, perhaps all the joints and nerves are relaxed. Perhaps the skin and other sensory organs relax. Heartbeat gets slower. Fewer thoughts are popping up and they are perhaps giving some solutions for lingering problems/situations, or similar good thoughts. The emotions that are experienced are of peace, tranquillity, contentment and love.
  7. Gently open eyes.

Take a deep breath and be the master of your life!

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