How Lungs React When You Hold Your Breath During Yoga

Holding your breath during yoga may have a negative effect at times, and a positive effect at other times. What happens with the function of the lungs when you hold your breath? And are other organs and physiological processes affected?

Function of the Lungs

The lungs are sometimes described as bellows. The function of the lungs is to receive oxygen rich air. They receive this through bronchial tubes that pierce them. They also expel from the body carbon dioxide and other waste products from the cells.

Cells also need energy. They get energy through oxygen. The nose and trachea bring oxygen into the lungs. The lungs are like two big sponges with millions of tiny bubbles connected to each other. At the end of the bronchial tree are the alveoli, little sacs that hold air. Blood vessels wrap around these air sacs.

An important exchange occurs in the air sacs. Molecules of oxygen leave the air sacs and pass into the lungs. And at the same time, the carbon dioxide passes from the blood to the air sacs to be exhaled.

Yoga and the Lobes of the Lung

Blood is distributed through the entire lung unevenly. The lower lobes of the lungs have more blood supply than the upper lobes. The complete yogic breath fills all 3 lobes. And deep exhalations help to release stale air from the bottom of the lungs. Forceful exhalations practiced in some yoga breathing exercises are quite purifying.

Conscious Holding

When the breath is held, there is more time for waste products to be collected in the air sac before exhalation. In some yoga practices it is common to end each movement or release a posture, with a deep breath that fills all 3 lobes of the lungs. The breath is consciously held for at least 5 seconds before its forceful expulsion or gentle exhalation; and then the posture is released.

Unconscious Holding

Beginners to yoga sometimes hold the breath unconsciously especially in challenging situations. This type of holding of your breath is always discouraged. All tissues in the body need oxygen during exercise. To hold your breath unconsciously stops the efficient functioning of the lungs, and creates slight tension in the nervous system.

During yoga, breathing through the tough times with conscious rhythmic breathing from the diaphragm creates relaxation in the nervous system. It trains the nervous system to relax under pressure in daily life and develop stress hardiness. Holding the breath consciously followed by complete exhalation helps to remove cellular waste efficiently.

And now, I'd like to invite you to download your free Stress Warning Signals test when you visit the Blog yogatogo.com yogatogo.com

Heather Greaves helps yoga beginners and enthusiasts of natural healing learn more yoga even though their only teacher is a book. "To learn more about something, teach it." Since 2005 this Yoga Therapist and owner of Body Therapies Yoga Training has been training teachers in a certified yoga teacher training program.