Its important to focus on the importance of our breath in yoga and in class we talk about what yoga is, and what yoga is not.

Breathing is the very essence of Yoga and is the first limb of the Eight Limbs of Yoga known as Pranayama.

In Yoga we practise conscious breathing (and we use the word practise as it is a lifelong journey). By doing this, it helps to control our mental, emotional and physical state.

Notice your breath when you are upset, stressed, frightened or scared. What happens? It becomes fast, shallow and harsh.

Think about when you are calm, happy and content. What happens? The breath is slower, deeper and flows more gently.

In Yoga it is believed that our life is not measured in years but by the number of breaths we take. So we try to keep our breaths deep, long and slow.

Yoga enables us to slow down, connect with the breath and connect that breath to movement.