Use this breath to purify your body and mind and find inspiration.

Take a comfortable seat—one that allows you to lengthen your spine. On your inhalations, either softly say out loud or internally recite the mantra so, also pronounced sah (the sound of pure energy and awareness, and of inspiration). Feel your spine grow long, the top of your head lift, and your side ribs expand. Visualize a line of energy running from the top of your head to the base of your spine; this is the internal cosmic superhighway (also called the brahma nadi) that connects your higher consciousness and higher chakras, or energy centers, to your lower consciousness and lower chakras. On your exhalations, resonate the mantra hum (the sound of transformation). Pull the low belly in and distribute that awareness into each cell of your body. You can use this technique any time you need inspiration—at the grocery store, sitting in traffic—or on its own as a meditation. For now, take 3–5 minutes to focus on so hum breath, then practice it in each of the following poses, clearing the primary energy channel along your spine and making room for awareness.

Source: Yoga Journal