The word for breath in Sanskrit is ‘prana’. Yoga teaches that intentionally using prana in different ways results in calming or revitalising effects. Through the breath you can learn how to control your mind and mood. Try it for yourself!

Breathing for feelings of anger or confusion

Sit on a chair or on the floor in an upright position, this is important, so that your breath can reach the deepest part of you. With one finger, press lightly your right nostril, breath in for the count of four,  now press your left nostril to exhale through the right side on the count of four. 

You can change the counts but maintain the length equal for the inhale as well as the exhale. Do this 20 times. This is a great exercise to do when feeling stress, frustration, negativity, and emotional.

Breathing for feelings of loneliness

Sitting or lying down, put one hand on your belly (to ground yourself ) and focus on the breath coming in and out of your belly.  Just breath normally and if your attention wanders, just bring it back to the breath. Count as you breath. One, for the in breath, two for the out breath, three for the in breath, etc. As you do this, imagine everything in the world that you love, such as people, dead or alive, sunshine, trees, blue sky, etc., and imagine that you are breathing all of these things in. And when you breath out you are expelling those feelings of loneliness.

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