breathing

[justwannabe]

I read something very interesting yesterday in one of my yoga books. The basic of it was during breathing that how much you exhale is more important then how much you inhale. If you do not exhale long enough then you trap toxins in your body and that is why a 1 to 2 ratio is recommended. breath in for four, breath out for 8. More experienced teachers please correct any errors, I am still a newbie.

[InnerAthlete]

Which book please?

These things are often based on some science but vary from yoga flavor to yoga flavor. The evidence or reseqqarch or empirical data is often used to validate some form of pranayama that the "flavor" incoporates, believes in, practices.

[justwannabe]

the complete illustrated book of yoga by swami Vishnu-devananda

[mohan.ankur]

Interesting Please post the Name of the Book.

[InnerAthlete]

Originally Posted by mohan.ankur

Interesting Please post the Name of the Book.

Actually the OP did post the title of the book

The Complete Illustrated Guide to Yoga

[xela]

I've heard you should exhale longer than you inhale, but I never heard a reason.

[InnerAthlete]

Originally Posted by tubeseeker

how much you exhale is more important then how much you inhale.

I think this one is fairly easy to test.
Try not exhaling and see how important it is.
The breathing cycle is equally important. respiration serves manny functions. Of course deeper breathing, when properly executed and in the right environment is better for the respiratory system.

From a toxicity standpoint if you're breathing very deeply while eating inorganic foods and inhaling the off-gassing of your new carpet, I'd say you're doing little good. Better to breath fresh air and eat well, thus avoiding those toxins then to get preoccupied with the ratio of your breath.