Pranayama is defined as controlled deep rhythmic breathing. The underlying principle of this practice aims to form a relationship amongst one’s emotion and breathing. To put it differently, breathing affects emotion and emotions are affective on breathing. The Caravan Wellness video Alternate Nostril Breathing is an exercise inspired by this yogic technique, with benefits that effect mindfulness-based therapeutic interventions, particularly with students (Singh).
According to the 2018 mindful breath awareness study using 22 University of Manchester students, the state of wellbeing is the incorporation of an individual’s physical, mental and emotional health faculties. Participants of the research study were tested before and after practicing eight weeks of mindful breath awareness meditations. Findings depicted an enhanced muscle relaxation in the respondents. The Caravan Wellness Liz teaches the techniques described in this study and instructs on how to increase the potential of our natural movements in the video she appears: Body Awareness.
The technique used by Liz is inspired by Shaolin’s Dan Tian Breathing (DTB) technique, a passive and active subtype breathing which is considered a relaxation exercise to induce relaxed and attentive states (Chan). This novel approach of combining the use of breathing for various types of stimulation is an important discovery and insight in mindful breath awareness meditation with implications that can lead to refinements in efficiencies of current attentional resources. With the many that appear in the series of breathing exercises on the Caravan Wellness platform, Clarity Breath deals with distilling focus through breath. The instructor Brianna advocates for physical and mental strength and she can show you how in the 32 videos she currently has on the Caravan app.
References
Chan, Agnes S., et al. “Shaolin Dan Tian Breathing Fosters Relaxed and Attentive Mind: A Randomized Controlled Neuro-Electrophysiological Study.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2011, 2011, pp. 1–11., doi:10.1155/2011/180704.
Schöne, B., Gruber, T., Graetz, S. et al. Mindful breath awareness meditation facilitates efficiency gains in brain networks: A steady-state visually evoked potentials study. Sci Rep 8, 13687 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32046-5
Singh, Mandeep, and Mahak Narang. “Http://Ljournal.ru/Wp-Content/Uploads/2016/08/d-2016-154.Pdf.” Department of Electrical & Instrumental Engineer, vol. 7, no. 2, June 2014, pp. 49–61., doi:10.18411/d-2016-154.