One of the amazing things that my mother taught me when I last visited Japan is the ancient Japanese breathing technique. This is a very simple but powerful method that anyone can do.

It’s important to sit tall whether you’re sitting on a chair or sitting down on the floor. If you’re sitting on a chair, make sure that your feet can be grounded and if you’re on the floor, you might want to use a cushion under the hips. Try to keep your sitting bones evenly grounded and keep the chest nice and opened.

Start by noticing your natural breath, see if you can connect to the breath without changing it in any way. This in itself can be challenging, as we often want to interfere or improve the way we’re breathing. Simply feel the breath without thinking or analysing – your body knows how to breathe and it’s perfect as it is.

Slowly begin to deepen your exhalation. It doesn’t have to be very long or deep - encourage the outbreath to grow slowly and smoothly. Your inhalation can flow naturally. In Japan, inhalation was known as the god’s breath (or gift) and you don’t need to make any effort, as it will naturally flow in by itself. Perhaps this belief comes from witnessing how newborn babies breathe for the first time.

You’ll probably find that your inhalation will change as a result of your exhale deepening. Watch with curiosity how your breathing cycle changes and how this makes you feel. After several rounds, you can gently allow the breath to return back to its natural rhythm.

Throughout this practice, try to be present and focused. It’s really important to be able to connect to all sensations, thoughts and feelings. As Ravi Ravindra said,

‘Yoga practice can make us more and more sensitive to subtler and subtler sensations in the body. Paying attention to and staying with the finer sensation is the surest way to steady the mind.’

One of the aims of yoga is to steady the mind and pranayama (breathing practice) plays an essential role in helping us to achieve this.

Enjoy your breath and get to know your mind!