Q: I just started doing yoga. I'm a little confused -- should I breathe through my nose or through my mouth when I do yoga postures?
A: How you breathe and take in air is very important. When doing aerobic exercise your body needs a lot of oxygen, so it's important to breathe through your mouth. When doing yoga it's a little different, nostril breathing is better. Nostril breathing stimulates the olfactory nerve. This nerve is linked to the brain and the pineal gland. The pineal and hypothalamus are the major glands in the endocrine system. This system controls and regulates bodily functions and emotional states.
Moods can be affected by a sense of smell or through controlled breathing. Remember the old saying, "When you get angry, hold your breath and count to ten!" Nostril breathing can stimulate the brain and cause a psycho-physical experience. This experience is the union of both mind and body through the breath.
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