{"id":80276,"date":"2020-08-10T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-10T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yogapedia.com\/2020\/08\/10\/how-to-practice-lions-breath"},"modified":"2020-08-20T19:26:26","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T14:55:01","slug":"how-to-practice-lions-breath","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yogapedia.com\/2\/8385\/breath\/breathing-techniques\/lions-breath","title":{"rendered":"How to Practice Lion’s Breath"},"content":{"rendered":"
Editor's Note: This article was originally published December 3, 2016. It has been updated and republished August, 2020.<\/em><\/p>\n Chances are you've practiced lion's breath<\/a> in one yoga practice or another. It's a powerful pranayama or breathing technique that helps to release stress and tension. Lion's breath is practiced most commonly in lion pose<\/a>, or simhasana<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Simha <\/em>means “lion” in Sanskrit<\/a> and, according to B.K.S. Iyengar<\/a>, it is dedicated to the man-lion incarnation of Lord Vishnu<\/a>.<\/p>\n Practicing simhasana and its accompanying lion’s breath is a great way to scare off your inner demons and inject some humor into your yoga practice.<\/p>\n Lion’s breath can be done in any asana by beginner and advanced yogis alike. Although it is traditionally done in tandem with it’s namesake pose, it is also commonly practiced seated in vajrasana<\/a><\/em> (thunderbolt pose<\/a>). On days when I need a little extra boost, I'll do lion’s breath in downward-facing dog<\/a> to blow off steam.<\/p>\n ReadL: The Power of Breath: An Introduction to Pranayama<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n There are many benefits associated with practicing simhasana and lion’s breath:<\/p>\n In one of the most definitive texts on Hatha yoga<\/a>, the ancient "Hatha<\/a> Yoga<\/a> <\/em>Pradipika<\/a>,<\/em>" it is stated that simhasana, along with siddhasana<\/a><\/em>, padmasana<\/a><\/em> and bhadrasana<\/a><\/em>, are the most important seated asanas to master. This is because these four asanas are key to accessing the subtle body<\/a> and pranic pathways in the body by clearing energy blockages in the nadis<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n The nadis are a network of thousands of energetic pathways in the subtle body through which life force<\/a> flows. Simhasana in particular helps yogis access the three bandhas<\/a><\/em>: (or energetic locks<\/a>): <\/span>mula bandha<\/em>, uddiyana bandha<\/em> and jalandara bandha<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n These bandhas are important because they work as pranic gateways to control the flow of life force energy through the nadis. Clearing away energetic blockages by learning to regulate the movement of prana<\/a> through the bandhas is a powerful way to bring about health, restore inner balance and, according to some, develop yogic powers (or siddhis<\/a>).<\/p>\n One of the ultimate goals of the Hatha yoga tradition is to awaken kundalini shakti<\/a>, which normally lies dormant at the base of the spine. Awakening this kundalini energy leads to ultimate liberation, but in order to achieve this liberation, yogis<\/a> need to learn to focus and control the movement of prana.<\/p>\n Read: Kundalini Shakti<\/strong>: The Meaning of the Sleeping Serpent<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Simhasana stimulates the throat chakra<\/a> (visuddha<\/em><\/a>), which is the center of communication and self-expression. Activating the throat chakra encourages the movement of prana in the kurma nadi<\/em>. This nadi originates at the muladhara<\/a><\/em> region at the base of the body and travels up into the base of the throat.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nHow to Do Lion’s Breath<\/h2>\n
\n
<\/p>\n\n
The Benefits of Lion’s Breath<\/h2>\n
\n
It Clears Energy Blockages<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nIt Stimulates the Throat Chakra<\/h3>\n