Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 (Director of Yoga Teacher Training at Aura Wellness Center) Talks about always trying to practice and apply pranayama to every day life, at any time, including in crowds, to manage daily situations. br br Practical Application of Yogic Breathing For Real Life Situations br br Breathing properly is an essential part of practicing yoga. Yogic breathing techniques, often collectively called pranayama, allow practitioners to reconcile the functions of the body with the will of the mind. Studies have demonstrated that correct breathing processes increase overall relaxation levels, mitigate the physiological effects of stress, improve organ function and help the body maintain a healthy equilibrium throughout the day. Each one of us, whether we are at work, school, home or the gym, encounter situations every day where knowledge of yogic breathing can come in handy. br br Regulation of Emotion br br Whether it's that obnoxious coworker at the office or a critical mother-in-law at home, stressful situations that involve emotional difficulties arise every day. Proper pranayama allows you to relax more effectively and control your emotions rather than letting temptation or anger get the best of you. Concentrating on slow and steady breathing frees the mind from having to think about the emotional situation and refocuses the body on regulating its basic processes rather than overreacting to negative stimuli. br br Mitigation of Stressful Situations br br Our bodies' natural processes are disrupted by extended excitatory nervous system arousal; this arousal can occur as the result of a piece of bad news, an uncomfortable encounter, or simply a buildup of minor negative events over the course of a day. Voluntary breath control increases the flow of oxygen to the brain, which allows you to make more rational decisions and process information more rapidly and thoroughly. Increased awareness of the situation is a natural result of taking the time to slow and control your breath, and this situational awareness is an essential part of stress relief. br br Increased Control over the Body br br Even in people who suffer from asthma, hypertension or other physical stress-related disorders, proper yogic breathing has been shown to assuage symptoms and allow the body to regulate itself. Correct breathing decreases the body's heart rate and boosts the oxygen levels in your blood. Many people suffer from an under-functioning diaphragm -- pranayama allows you to activate the chest cavity's full capability and breathe in a healthier way. Physical processes are inescapably tied to oxygen intake, and proper breathing is capable of changing the way that our bodies react to disorders occurring inside of them. br br Yogic breathing can aid students and teachers of yoga in situations outside the studio each and every day. Focusing on technique and the breathing process allows the mind to connect to the body in a more meaningful way, and will absolutely improve the quality of your interactions with other people and the world around you.