8 # Set the pace of breathing
The beginning of class is the perfect and most ideal time to teach the art of deep rhythmic breathing. The single thing that makes Hatha Yoga (Vinyasa and Power Yoga fall under the “umbrella” word of Hatha- defined in the Yoga Pradapikta as “movement and breath”, is the quality of the calm mind that we bring to the “shapes” or “poses” or “postures”, this is a direct result consistent focus and concentration of the breath. As Sri Krishnamacharya who is very high up on our lineage of teachers said, “without the breath it is not Yoga, it is just physical exercise”. And when you instruct your class to move from unconscious, automatic breathing to consciously breathing their bodies, the room becomes peaceful and appropriate for the practice of Yoga.
It is great to give breath instruction, establish, and then add the movement. This sets the pace of the class.
Yoga Breathing (Pranayama) is one of the 8 limbs of yoga.
