A yoga beginner can make these 3 mistakes, and loose an opportunity to increase the storehouse of inner peace and vitality.

Mistake #1. Not recognizing the value of paying attention to the breath – Inevitably at the very least you are probably becoming more aware of the inhale and exhale as you practice yoga. Sometimes you are instructed to hold the pose for 5 breaths, and you follow the instructions perhaps without understanding the impact of this simple action.

Fact - Paying attention to your inhalation and exhalation trains the mind and increases drops of peace. It also increases your awareness of the subtle aspects of your being.

Mistake #2 – Undervaluing breathing exercises – Without an appreciation for the positive and far reaching effects of breathing exercises (pranayama), it is easy to undervalue this subtle practice.

Fact – Pranayama increases our chances of breathing with the diaphragm instead of with the chest, and even belly. Diaphragmatic breathing massages the organs in the abdomen, and increases chi, prana or life force within your body.

Mistake #3 – To exclude pranayama from your daily yoga practice - It is easy to exclude the breathing exercises from your yoga routine when you are ignorant of the profound benefits of this practice.

Fact – You can surround your movement practice with the breath. Start and end your practice with breath awareness and/or a breathing exercise. Deepen you practice even more by beginning each phase of the breath (both inhalation and exhalation) first, and then moving after the breath has begun.

Increase finding inner peace and vitality through breath awareness and a breathing practice. Your treasure store will grow.