How To Breathe in Yoga - The Science & Philosophy

In the yoga world, many students, teachers, and influencers talk a good game. They claim to understand yoga—a movement system guided and driven by our breath patterns. But when it comes to actually applying this principle, many fall short. Most people end up prioritizing the aesthetics of a pose over everything else. This has now become the norm. Teachers often guide when to inhale and exhale, but in my experience, this instruction is often just part of a script. Many don’t understand how to initiate movement or breath properly, nor do they appreciate the magic that occurs within the body when we breathe correctly. Correct breathing isn’t just physiologically beneficial for brain health and the nervous system; it’s fundamental to what makes yoga truly yoga. You can perform a pose imperfectly, but if you breathe correctly, you honor one of the most sacred principles of yoga. You align with your breath. According to legend, 15,000 years ago, the first student of yoga, the princess Parvati asked her husband, the first yogi, Adi Yogi (Shiva), how one could experience a reality beyond themselves—how to transcend what it means to be human. Shiva didn’t provide any philosophy; he gave only methods. The first eight methods focused entirely on breathing. By paying close attention to our breath, we can hear what our body is trying to tell us. Breath is the bridge between us and something greater. Breathing correctly transcends science; it touches the sacred core of yoga. We are made from stardust—the remnants of stars that exploded billions of years ago, scattering their elements into the cosmos. Every day, the universe enters us through our nose and lungs, reconnecting us with those lost stars. This is deeply philosophical and empowering. When we prioritize breathing over the glory of the pose, we momentarily transcend what it means to be human. We connect with something far greater. And this Union - is Yoga.