Namaste, When the breath wanders the mind also is unsteady. When the breath is calmed the mind too will be still. ~ Hatha Yoga Pradipika Befriend your breath. The first step in pranayama is training ourselves to use the entire range of our physical breathing apparatus. This means experiencing full yogic breathing coordinating the lower, middle, and upper parts of the breath process as well as learning to attenuate the outgoing breath. When we take full, slow, deep breaths through the nose, using all three sections of our breathing apparatus and drawing out the exhalation longer than the inhalation, a number of important things start to happen in our body. First, nose breathing filters the air, warms it, and keeps it moist. Thus the air arrives in the lungs in the best condition to provide efficient transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide. In addition, full breathing through the nose also stimulates some of the subtle nerve structures, beginning the proces...