five best Yoga asanas and pranayams that can help you breathe better.

Yogasana is a combination of physical stances and correct breathing practices that are intended to help the body and mind maintain overall equilibrium. According to yoga, 'breath' is also noted as 'prana', the driving life force behind all energy that controls our life. Breathing in the correct way is crucial in case of any form of yoga, since if not done properly it may get stuck in the body channels and exude immense pain and body ache. 

1. Marjariasana (Cat pose) 

This pose replicates the fluid spinal movement of a cat and is very good to understand how to breathe in synchronization with your movement. 

Here's how to do it: 

- Come onto an all fours with the knees under your hips and wrists under your shoulders. 

- As you inhale, arch your spine and try and look upwards creating a gentle curve in your spine.

- While exhaling, round your back and look downwards, creating a hunch with your spine. Relax. Do five rounds of this at least. 

2. Sphinx Pose: (Salamba Bhujangasana)

This is gentle backward bending asana. It beautifully opens and expands the chest, which is very essential if you want to improve your breathing. 

Here's how to do it:

- Lie down on your abdomen, keeping your feet together & forehead on the floor. 

-Rest your forearms on the floor ensuring that the elbows are just under the shoulders. 

- Using an inhale, lift your head and chest up and roll your shoulders back, keeping your belly on the floor.

- Take a few deep breaths here. Exhale and release the posture. 

3. Setubandh Asana (Bridge Pose) 

A supine back bend pose that elevates the angle of your chest and lets the lungs breathe freely.

Here's how to do it: 

- Lie on your back, knees bent and the feet hip-distance apart and parallel to each other. 

- As you press your palms, feet and shoulders onto the mat, inhale and lift your hips up. 

- Hold this for five breaths, and slowly exhale coming back come down. Release the pose. 

4. Abdominal Breathing 

Also known as the Diaphragmatic Breathing, this deep form of breathing method quickly calms and resets the nervous system. It also alleviates the wrong breathing habit that many of us have, of shallow chest breathing. 

Here's how to do it: 

- Lie down on your back, keeping your knees bent.

- Touch your knees to each other, while keeping the feet apart. 

- Place the right palm on your belly. As you inhale deeply and exhale deeply, focus on the rise and fall of the belly. 

- Do 10 rounds for deep breath and a calming experience. 

5. Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana) 

This is a centering technique, which aims to balance the flow of your breath in both the sides of your nostril. 

Here's how to do it:

- Using the right hand thumb, close the right nostril & inhale through the left nostril. 

- Close the left nostril using the ring finger and exhale through the right nostril. Inhale through the right nostril. Close the right nostril and exhale from the left nostril. This would be one round. 

- Do a minimum of 10 rounds - using slow breaths.