Full Yogic Breath - 2 stages

In this breathing practice the awareness is placed inside the lungs and the lungs are imagined like two, flat, rubber pockets, like balloons. 

The aim when inhaling in this technique is to inflate these dense, but elastic pockets - and when exhaling to continue exhaling until they are completely flat and squeezing together. 

As a result of both the inflation and the squeeze all internal organs are massaged; stagnant energy is activated; and all the chemical and biological processes of the cells, activated.  The inflated lungs massage and pressure the liver, heart, spleen, kidneys, stomach, intestines, and all internal organs as does the pressure of the exhalation, which also brings pressure to bear on the eliminatory and reproductive organs due to the abdominal muscles bringing the lungs completely flat, again.

There are two stages to this breath 

Stage 1 - try it right now.

Inhaling: Take your awareness right to the base of the lungs  -  inhaling slowly and smoothly imagine and feel the lungs stretching and inflating, bring the awareness right up past the shoulders. Hold for 1 - 7 seconds.   

Exhaling: Exhale slowly moving the awareness downwards. From the top of the shoulders trace the path of the exhalation slowly down, deep into the base of the lungs. Hold for 1 - 7 seconds.

This is one complete round.  1 - 5 rounds may be practiced anywhere, anytime.

As you can imagine it takes concentration to get the awareness into the base of the lungs, but once this has happened the inhalation can then be felt moving upwards through the lungs in a smooth slow wave-like movement .

It is not the aim of yoga to teach the student to breathe like this all day every day.  The all day everyday breath should be quiet and peaceful.  The full yogic breath is used to Vitalise, Restore and re-Focus, only as required.   Good times to use this breath: when waking up, mid-afternoon and before going to sleep. At any time you feel stressed.

Stage 2 - full yogic breath with pauses

Inhaling: Again take your awareness right to the base of the lungs and again aim to inhale so that the lungs are fully inflated at the end of the inhalation, but with a difference ... in this stage inhale a little - and STOP for 2 seconds - inhale a little and STOP for 2 seconds - inhale a little and STOP for 2 seconds, continuing in small steps of breathing and stopping,  until the breath is fully inhaled. Be sure to bring the awareness right up past the shoulders.  
Then ...

Exhaling: Exhale a little and STOP for 2 seconds - exhale a little and STOP for 2 seconds - exhale a little and STOP for 2 seconds - continuing in small steps of breathing and stopping, moving the awareness slowly downwards from the top of the shoulders into the base of the lungs, ensuring all breath is fully exhaled. This is one complete round.  

You may need to make only 2-3 stops at first. But soon enough you will be able to breathe and stop 4-8 times in an inhalation, or an exhalation. If you need to rest for a moment just let the breath flow in and out peacefully until you can begin another round. Beginners practice 1-3 rounds.  Adepts 1 - 10 rounds.

This calming, rejuvenating breathing technique may be practiced anywhere, anytime. It's a great de-stressor, very good preparation for meditation, calms the mind and rejuvenates the body.

Take your time to develop more breaths and pauses. Take weeks, or months.

Good times to use this breath: after you have completed a series of asana as it concentrates the life-force, prana, and calms and strengthens the mind. When feeling extremely speedy or stressed.
After using the stack stretches for rejuvenation, sit upright and practice this for 5-10 minutes.