The Magic Molecule

Dear Yogis!

James Nestor (I’ve written about him before) says we’ve lost the knowledge of how to breathe and you only have to look at the amount of people with chronic respiratory illnesses to know it’s true. He was on Virgin Radio this week (30, November, click here, wind forward to 2:52:30 – it’s a nice interview) reminding me, with his exquisite expertise about breath, that we do so much more in yoga practice than postures!

As it turns out, the nose is not just there to hang your glasses on or waiting for plastic surgery! Nestor says you HAVE to breathe through your nose. Part of the nasal structure is the nasal concha, a regulating chamber shaped like a protective sea shell. It filters, heats up and pressurises air, and bolsters the immune function. We get 20% more oxygen when we breathe through the nose than we do the equivalent through the mouth.

Also, you create six times more nitric oxide when nose breathing than mouth breathing. That’s the magic molecule which does the same thing as Viagra – nitric oxide causes blood vessels to relax and dilate, improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure! Factoid: Nitric oxide was proclaimed Molecule of the Year in 1992! Scientists showed that normal functions of the brain, arteries, immune system, liver, pancreas, uterus, nerves and lungs, depend on nitric oxide.

What use is this to us? How do we access these benefits? Try this: if you hum, you’ll increase your levels of nitric oxide and its benefits, which is why humming can be an effective way of opening up a blocked nose. Useful to know in the winter months. Also try Bhramari Pranayam, known as Bee Breath. You buzz like a bee with your exhalation. This is nice if you’re new to meditation and wondering how to spend your five minutes on the meditation cushion!

Zoom Classes – New Class

The new Thursday morning Ashtanga classes started this week. What a lovely class! Please join us to start your day with energy and achievement! It’s on every Thursdays from 8.00 to 9.00. For all classes, you can book here.

Yoga in the news 

For Times Subscribers: Yoga guru Adriene Mishler: 'I felt knocked out by anxiety'. ““I remember I told my partner I felt knocked out by anxiety. I am a caretaker by nature, but then that became my job, my world … ” Her voice trails off. “I know how it sounds — ‘Little girl from Texas gets burnt out from doing so much virtual service work’ — but …”

The Daily Mail has: Viscountess Hinchingbrooke is Britain's bendiest aristocrat (who says yoga saved her sanity). “But can we sluggards and sloths emulate her suppleness? ‘Yes!’ she insists. Just by setting aside 15 minutes a day, we too can slough off stiffness, improve our muscle mass and enhance our emotional wellbeing.” Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…..

SparkChronicles has: Celebrities that talk about meditation, yoga and Zen. Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Jennifer Aniston... No guys. The best advice is from Selena Gomez who says when she’s really bad, she just goes for a nap. 'When I wake up, I can start all over again'.