Sukshma Vyayama or Breathwork Yoga is an active practice where we will do some poses with only breathing and many with asanas (poses) and pranayama (breathwork) together. This practice moves energy in the body, bringing in more oxygen and healing to the body to assist it in cleansing and detoxing. This moves stagnant energy in the body that is mentally, emotionally or physically blocking us.

Breathwork yoga helps elevate our mood, and addresses anxiety, depression, and negative thinking. It does this through increasing the neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, endorphins and GABA. It also assists the thyroid, adrenals, pituitary, and vagus nerve, so it is excellent for any kind of stress; regulating the mood, digestion and sleep, and increasing feelings of well-being and pleasure. Sukshma Vyayama, or breathwork yoga also opens up our energy centers or chakras which assists in opening up and removing blockages with the rest of our physiology.

In Sukshma Vyayama, breathwork yoga like I teach, also known in the branch of yoga called pranayama, the focus is on breathing (and can be with or without an asana). The goal is to regulate the nervous system, and increase our immunity through building up the respiratory system. This means besides helping us to stay well and prevent illness, but also is specifically helpful to the mental, emotional and spiritual body. Because it increases blood flow in the body to the organs, and flushes out toxins from the organs of elimination, this is a deeply detoxifying practice that will keep the body free from disease.The goal of doing pranayama or breathwork yoga is also to create a perfect mental equilibrium.

There are some poses you should not do if you are pregnant, have dizziness, glaucoma, HBP, menstruation, osteoporosis, or if you have a specific injury there may be some poses you may not want to do, or will need a modification for. Always ask Korenna before class what is appropriate or not with any health condition of concern.

During your menses you can continue to do breathwork, but you will want to do minimal navel pumping and deep breathwork, as this increases the movement of blood and the body is deprived of blood.

Children can do breathwork yoga, but they can only do the pranic breath technique once they are over age 10.

Breathwork yoga regulates mood and addresses depression and anxiety, insomnia and regulates our digestion as well. If you struggle with low energy in the day, it is recommended to do this practice in the morning to elevate energy, although any time of day it will increase your energy. Breathwork yoga also has different poses intended to heal all parts of the body and can be used in place of resistance weight training, as you can build muscle and do exercises that are like PT for the body, to strengthen, tone and keep the body flexible. This form can prevent and heal carpal tunnel, ankle issues, back and neck issues.

There are many anti-aging benefits to this particular form, and we even work to heal the eyes, ears, teeth and gums, and throat. Breathwork yoga is very detoxifying and is especially helpful for the kidneys, liver and gut function, as well as the skin and lungs. Any conditions related to these organs will benefit, therefore it is an excellent practice for anyone with autoimmune. So these can correlate to assisting with thyroid, liver, and all the different organ imbalances. Sukshma and breathwork yoga enhances all the organ systems though, so anyone with a chronic or acute condition can benefit, when they are able to do so.

Breathwork yoga additionally helps enhance our hormone levels, and so this is an excellent form for women who have menstrual issues or are in perimenopause or menopause. Sukshma (breathwork yoga) clears out stagnant issues in meridians as well as chakras, such as clearing the throat chakra to allow clear and loving communication to flow.

Overall, breathwork yoga will boost your immune system and is great preventative medicine to stay well. Sukshma; breathwork yoga has also been incredibly effective in helping heal more quickly from issues such as pneumonia or a virus such as Covid.