Why Clean Air Matters This National Yoga Month
As we roll out our mats to celebrate National Yoga Month, it's the perfect time to reflect on how this ancient practice continues to transform lives in our modern world. But have you ever considered how the air you breathe during your practice affects your overall yoga experience and health?
At its heart, yoga is about breath. The ancient yogis understood that controlling the breath was key to controlling the mind and, by extension, one's overall well-being. This is where the quality of the air you breathe becomes crucial.
Let's explore the powerful synergy between yoga and clean air, and how innovative air purifiers can elevate your practice to new heights.
The Air You Breathe: An Often Overlooked Aspect of Wellness
While we pay attention to what we eat and drink, we often overlook the quality of the air we breathe. Yet, the average person takes about 20,000 breaths per day. The air we inhale has a profound impact on our health, affecting everything from our lung function to our cognitive abilities.
Indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air, according to the EPA. Indoor air quality is crucial for yoga practitioners who often practice indoors, whether at home or in a studio. Common indoor pollutants include:
- Dust and allergens
- Pet dander
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from cleaning products and furnishings
- Mold spores
- Bacteria and viruses
These pollutants can trigger allergies, cause respiratory issues, and even affect your ability to concentrate during your yoga practice.
The Yoga-Air Quality Connection
Now, let's connect the dots between yoga, air quality, and your overall health:
- Deeper Breathing: Many yoga practices emphasize deep, controlled breathing. When the air is clean, you're able to take in more oxygen with each breath, enhancing the benefits of these breathing exercises.
- Improved Focus: Clean air has been linked to better cognitive function. This means you can stay more present and focused during your practice, enhancing the mind-body connection that's so crucial in yoga.
- Reduced Allergies and Irritation: Cleaner air means fewer allergens and irritants, allowing you to flow through your practice without distractions like sneezing or a runny nose.
- Better Sleep: Both yoga and clean air contribute to improved sleep quality. Combine the two, and you're setting yourself up for truly restorative rest.
- Enhanced Relaxation: The calming effects of yoga are amplified in a clean air environment, free from the subconscious stress of pollutant exposure.
Elevating Your Practice with Airmega Air Purifiers
This is where Coway's cutting-edge air purification technology comes into play. Let's look at two standout products that can transform your yoga space
Airmega Aim: Your Personal Yoga Companion
For home practitioners or those who want targeted purification, the Airmega Aim offers unique benefits:
- Directional Purification: Its ability to aim purified air in multiple directions means you can point it directly at your mat for the cleanest possible air during practice.
- Compact Design: At just 18.5 x 19.7 x 8.03 inches, it fits easily in smaller spaces or can be moved around as needed.
- 3-Stage Filtration: Despite its size, it doesn't compromise on purification, capturing 99.999%¹ of nano-sized particles.
- Remote Control: Adjust settings without leaving your mat, maintaining your flow and focus.
- Auto Mode: Like other Airmega models, it adapts to your environment, providing smart, efficient purification.
Airmega ProX: The Studio Powerhouse
For yoga studio owners or those with larger home practice spaces, the Airmega ProX is a game-changer. Here's why it's perfect for creating the ideal yoga environment:
- Impressive Coverage: With the ability to refresh 4,253 sq ft once every 60 minutes, it's perfect for spacious yoga studios or open-plan homes.
- HyperCaptive™ Filtration: This advanced system removes 99.999%¹ of airborne contaminants down to 0.01 microns, including viruses, bacteria, and ultra-fine dust.
- Max2 Filter: Combining activated carbon and Green True HEPA™ filtration, it tackles both particulate matter and odors, creating a truly pure air environment.
- Smart Modes: The auto mode adjusts fan speed based on air quality, ensuring optimal purification without disruption during your practice.
- Quiet Operation: With noise levels as low as 23 dB(A), it won't interfere with your meditation or savasana.
Incorporating Clean Air into Your Yoga Routine
Now that we understand the importance of air quality in yoga, let's explore how to integrate it into your practice.
Create a Clean Air Zone
Use your Coway Airmega to create a dedicated clean air space for your practice. Turn it on about 30 minutes before you begin to ensure the air is fully purified.
Mindful Breathing
As you begin your practice, take a moment to appreciate the clean air you're breathing. This can become part of your intention-setting ritual.
Enhance Pranayama
Clean air can make breathing exercises like alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhana) or breath of fire (Kapalabhati) even more effective and enjoyable.
Support Meditation
A space with pure air can enhance your ability to focus during meditation, helping you achieve deeper states of mindfulness.
Boost Recovery
After a vigorous practice, clean air can support your body's recovery process, reducing inflammation and supporting overall wellness.
Yoga Styles and Air Quality: Finding Your Perfect Match
Different yoga styles can benefit from clean air in various ways. Let's explore a few:
- Hatha Yoga: This gentle, alignment-focused practice often involves holding poses for longer periods. Clean air can help you maintain focus and deepen your breath in each asana.
- Vinyasa Flow: In this dynamic practice, clean air supports your endurance, allowing you to flow smoothly from pose to pose without feeling winded.
- Hot Yoga: While many hot yoga studios have built-in air filtration, adding a powerful purifier like the Airmega ProX can take air quality to the next level, crucial in a high-humidity environment.
Celebrating National Yoga Month with Intention
As we celebrate National Yoga Month, let's set intentions that go beyond the physical practice:
- Mindful Breathing: Commit to paying more attention to your breath, both on and off the mat.
- Environmental Awareness: Become more conscious of the air quality around you and take steps to improve it where you can.
- Community Connection: Share the benefits of yoga and clean air with your community. Consider organizing a group practice in a park or other outdoor space with good air quality.
- Continued Learning: Dive deeper into the philosophy of yoga and its connection to overall wellness, including the air we breathe.
- Gratitude Practice: Take time each day to appreciate the air you breathe and the ability to move and practice yoga.
A Breath of Fresh Air for Your Yoga Practice
As we honor National Yoga Month, let's remember that yoga is about union – not just of mind and body, but also with our environment. By paying attention to the quality of the air we breathe during our practice, we can enhance the profound benefits of yoga and take our wellness journey to new heights.
Whether you're stretching out in a spacious studio purified by the Airmega ProX or flowing through a home practice with the targeted clean air of the Airmega Aim, remember that every breath is an opportunity for renewal and growth.
So roll out your mat, turn on your Coway Airmega air purifier and take a deep, clean breath. Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you. Here's to a month – and a lifetime – of mindful movement and pure, life-giving air. Namaste.
Sources:
Medical News Today - What is yogic breathing? Benefits and how to try it
Cardiology Center of Houston - Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root “yuj” that means “union, to unite or to connect “
Disclaimers
1Coway air purifiers have been proven to trap dust, pollen, dander, viruses and bacteria in the air based on KCL (Korea Conformity Laboratories) testing.They have been tested in a 30㎥ size chamber according to the Korea Air Cleaning Association standard (SPS-KACA 002-132:2022 Modified) to measure the 0.01㎛ size of particle removal rate. It was tested on maximum airflow speed in normal room temperature and humidity conditions. The performance may vary in the actual living environment of customers.
→ Tested with Airmega Aim, 100, 150, 160, AP-1216L, AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 200M, Icon, IconS, 230, 240, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 400, 400S, ProX
299.97% of viruses, bacteria, fungi and pollen were verified to be removed from the air for Coway air purifiers which have Green True HEPA™ filter applied based on the Japan Food Research Laboratories(JFRL) testing according to JEM 1467 standard.
→ Tested with Coway Airmega AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 400, 400S
→ All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.
All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.
- Virus: Tested with Escherichia coli phage ΦX174 NBRC 103405, 60 minutes
- Bacteria: Tested with Staphylococcus epidermidis NBRC 12993, 60 minutes
- Fungi/Mold: Tested with Penicillium citrinum NBRC 6352, 60 minutes
- Pollen: Tested with Cedar Pollen extract, 60 minutes
3Aerosol test conducted in a Biosafety level 3 laboratory with two Coway air purifier models, Coway Airmega 250 and 400 for removal of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol by US based MRI Global, a not-for-profit laboratory and partner of US Department of Defense. The test was conducted in a 13.1ft3 chamber. Virus was aerosolized for 15 minutes and the product was turned on high for 2 minutes. Result showed each product effectively removed over 99.98% of the SARS-CoV-2 in 2 minutes. This is a result from a laboratory experiment condition and result may vary in different conditions. This result does not imply it kills SARS-CoV-2 or prevents the transmission of Covid-19. Coway Airmega 250S and 400S are identical to the tested models and has equal performance with an additional mobile connectivity function.
4The concentration of ammonia, acetaldehyde and acetic acid were proven to be removed within 30 minutes by FCG Research Institute, Inc. Human Life Science Lab. It is not a demonstration result in the actual use space. Not all odors and gases may be supported. → Tested with Coway Airmega 150, 160, AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 400, 400S
5The coverage area of the air purifier is based on an area where the air cleaner can make two air changes per hour (ACPH). An air change per hour translates to how many times an air purifier can clean an area, assuming the height of a ceiling to be 8 ft, in one hour. Therefore ** means two air changes per hour means that the cleaner can clean the area once every 30 minutes and * means air changes per hour means that the air purifier can clean the area once every 60 minutes.
10Terms and conditions apply. Discounts, including promotions, coupons, bundle discount and subscription discount, cannot be stacked on top of other coupons. During promotional periods, discount codes will not be able to be applied to orders. Promo codes may apply to products only—filters, accessories, and new products within 3 months of the release date are not included.
