The most important part of breath work is the exhalation. Poor exhalation impairs the whole breathing exercise. Rough exhalation can be a sign of current or impending illness. You should be able to breathe out slowly and quietly before you attempt any breathing exercises.

When we exhale, we are ridding the body of impurities, or things it doesn’t need. We are also making room for what we do need. By working consciously to empty the lungs completely, we not only clear out the system, but we start to create a habit that our bodies eventually adopt over time. Before long we are exhaling more fully without thinking about it.

Next time you practice deep yoga breathing, pay particular attention to the exhalation. Draw your abdominal muscles in toward the spine. At the same time, pull the diaphragm up. You may feel this deep into the pelvic floor. Challenge yourself to see how much air you can expel from your body. As you practice this, you realize it’s not a matter of pushing the air out, but contracting the muscles around the lungs so that there is simply no more room for air. Your lungs are like a sponge and the surrounding muscles act like hands to wring them out.

Breathing exercises (also called Pranayamas) are very powerful. It’s a good idea to practice new exercises with a friend or to study under the supervision of a qualified instructor.