Hello May
Recently, I joined the club of knee replacement caregivers. I won’t say too much about it other than that the pain can be intense. In response to any pain, you might find yourself breathing heavily through your mouth, trying to draw in more air when moving around. However, yoga teaches us that nasal breathing offers greater benefits for managing both physical and emotional discomfort.
During yoga—whether you're practicing poses or meditating—the mouth remains closed to regulate the breath. This intentional breathing serves several purposes:
It increases awareness of your breath.
It encourages you to slow down when you're feeling strained.
It helps your body work with less resistance.
Physiologically, nasal breathing filters toxins, humidifies the air, and helps regulate your body temperature. It also plays a role in calming your nervous system and stabilizing your heart rate.
As your nose filters and hydrates the air, your mind begins to focus on the smooth, steady rhythm of inhalation and exhalation—drawing attention inward instead of outward.
As your attention anchors to the breath, you naturally begin to slow down. Rather than powering through discomfort, you become more aware of how your body and mind are reacting, perhaps draining your energy.
With this slowing down, your body has a chance to reset—your heart rate and blood pressure adjust. You’re no longer in fight-or-flight mode, no longer metaphorically running a marathon or lifting emotional weights. Your breath returns to a natural rhythm that supports and soothes you.
Pain isn’t just physical; it’s mental and emotional, too. Everyone regulates differently, and part of the practice is discovering how your own body responds. At its most essential, breath is life—and every breath is a chance to return to what matters most. What are you breathing life into?