10 Benefits of Yoga
Yoga Benefit #3: Improves Oxygen Intake
Slow, deep breathing, also called pranayama, is an important component of yoga practice. In normal circumstances, most people only use the upper part of the lungs when breathing. This means that large parts of the lungs are unused. As a result, the body may not get as much oxygen as it requires for efficient functioning. This is probably one of the reasons why some people complain of low energy or fatigue.
When you practice pranayama, you breathe slowly and deeply to fill up the lungs. This means that most of the lungs’ internal surface area is exposed to air and more oxygen can be absorbed for use in the body. At the same time, the body releases more carbon dioxide through the lungs. The increased oxygen intake helps the body to produce more energy and get rid of higher amounts of waste carbon dioxide.
