Viloma means opposite.
In Viloma Pranayama the breathing is interrupted throughout the inhalation and/or exhalation. In normal breathing, inhalation and exhalation flow smoothly and evenly.
Benefits:
This practice develops control over the breath flow and is an easy method of extending the breath duration.
Helps you cool down after an active yoga class.
Helps to relieve anxiety.
It may be used as a preparation for nadi shodhana and bhastrika.
Short forceful breaths will prepare the lungs and musculature for the practices of bhastrika and kapalbhati.
Technique 1: interruption of inhalation
After practicing breath awareness for a few minutes, begin inhalation with a series of short pauses: inhale-pause, inhale-pause, inhale-pause. Continue in this way until the lungs are full.
Imagine that you are breathing up a set of stairs.
On completion of the interrupted inhalation, exhale slowly and smoothly until the lungs are empty.
Technique 2: interruption of exhalation
Practice in the same way, except that inhalation is smooth and full.
Exhalation is interrupted by a series of pauses until the lungs are completely empty.
The number of pauses depends on the individual capacity.
Technique 3: interruption of inhalation and exhalation
This practice combines both interrupted inhalation and interrupted exhalation.
Inhale with a series of pauses until the lungs are full. Then exhale with a series if pauses until the lungs are empty.
Try to control the abdomen, but do not use force. Take a normal respiration between each round.
Notes:
The number of pauses may vary in the 3 techniques, but will normally be from 3 to 5.
Practice with the guidance of a teacher!
Hari om!!!