Try these 3 yogic breathing techniques to boost your confidence

Take your confidence level up a notch with these yogic breathing techniques.

Confidence makes you feel good and makes others around you feel confident in you. So, whether you are preparing for a job interview, a meeting or a date these breathing exercises recommended by yoga expert Raman Mishra can take your confidence and self-esteem up a notch. Perform these asanas whenever you feel nervous or unsure, and you will be ready to take on anything with confidence.

The forceful breath

This process can be an instant antidote to fear and anxiety. It will help release any tension and instantly make you feel confident. Also, perform this simple yoga mudra to overcome fear.

Steps to perform:

• Stand comfortably and take a deep breath.
• Breathe out forcefully with a sneezing hmmm sound. Repeat this for 2 to 3 times.

Luxury breathing

The technique will make you calm and give you the strength to face any situation. It will also beat nervousness and help you be at ease with the people you are interacting. Also try the martial art Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to improve your cardiovascular fitness and boost confidence.

Steps to perform:

• Stand straight and as you inhale, stretch your arms out towards the ceiling. Open your fingers as wide as you can.
• Then stick your tongue out as you open your mouth wide keeping your chin down. Feel your body weight shift towards the ball of your foot.
• As your arms circle behind you, exhale and come back to the starting position. Repeat this two to three times before you go ahead on the stage.

Nadi shodhan pranayama

A few minutes of nadi shodhan pranayama is great to de-stress your mind, release stress and tension and boost your confidence.

Steps to perform

• Sit comfortably with your spine erect and shoulders relaxed.
• Place your left hand on your left knee and your palms open to the sky.
• Now position the tip of your index finger and middle finger of your right hand in between your eyebrows. Place your ring finger and middle finger on left nostril and your thumb on the right nostril. You are to use the ring finger and the little finger to open and close the left nostril and thumb for the right nostril.
• Press your thumb gently on the right nostril and breathe out through the left nostril.
• Now inhale through the left nostril and press the left nostril gently with your ring and little finger. Removing the right thumb from the right nostril, exhale through the right.
• Again breathe in from the right nostril and exhale from the left to complete one round of nadi shodhan pranayama. Continue breathing in and breathing out from alternate nostrils.
• Complete nine rounds of alternatively breathing through the nostrils. Make sure you keep your eyes closed while you do the pranayama.

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