Breath of Joy sets you free
Breathing exercise is a good way to start your day — or give it a jump-start
Were I a breath sommelier, I wouldn’t hesitate to pair the Breath of Joy with the breathtaking views offered by Niagara Falls. I unrolled my mat on the lower observation deck at the base of the Horseshoe Falls to savour the delights of this playful and invigorating breath exercise.
1. Stand with your feet a little wider than hip-distance apart and your knees softly bent.
2. As you inhale one-third of your lung capacity through your nose, swing your arms forward and up to shoulder height with your arms parallel and palms facing skyward.
3. As you inhale the next third, swing your arms out wide like the wings of a flying bird.
4. As you inhale to capacity, swing your hands out in front again and reach your arms overhead, keeping them parallel and shoulder distance apart with palms facing one another.
5. Finally, vocalize your exhale, emitting a gleeful “ha” sound, as you cascade into a slouchy forward bend with bent knees.
6. Repeat up to nine more times, picking up speed, momentum and volume as you go. Experiment with lifting onto your toes and using your knees to add spring to the action.
Breath of Joy is a perfect way to start the day or to reinvigorate you in the middle afternoon. Why not try it in lieu of your usual cup of coffee? Namaste Niagara Namaste Niagara, Niagara Parks’ exclusive yoga series at Journey Behind the Falls, returns for four select Sundays this summer. Admission offers private access to Journey Behind the Falls, a 45-minute morning yoga session on the lower observation deck and a locally sourced brunch at the historic Queenston Heights, one of Niagara Parks’ five Feast ON-certified restaurants. Ticket sales will be announced on Niagara Parks’ social media channels prior to each event (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). YuMee Chung is a recovering lawyer who teaches yoga in Toronto. She is on the faculty of a number of yoga teacher training programs and leads international yoga retreats. Learn more about her at padmani.com