Breath of Joy

This breath work practice is active with the arms activated, the body folding into a forward bend and opening the mouth to exhale creating more energy and motion to move the breaths through and out of the body.
This practice is said to:

• Bring a sense of energy
• Lengthen breath,
• Facilitating deep breathing
• Serve as a warm-up for asana

How to:

It’s a staggered inhalation:

• Stand with feet hip-width or a little wider apart.
• Inhale 1/3 of capacity, drawing arms forward & up to shoulder height.
• Inhale to 2/3 capacity, drawing arms open to side, elbows soft.
• Inhale to full capacity, drawing arms overhead.
• Exhale completely through mouth, folding forward, head drawing toward space between legs, arms swinging down & outside hips.
• Practice three or more times in a row.

Contra-indications:
As with any pranayama please practice with awareness of how you are feeling, never over-doing/forcing the breaths.
Cautions: High / Low BP, any Back issues, Shoulder issues, Neck issues.