Jones Robb, PLLC kicked off Mental Health Awareness Month with a virtual breathing exercise class instructed by our own resident yogi, Sachin Kandhari.  The team enjoyed learning these techniques designed to improve mental clarity, energy, and overall lung health.  Here are a few words from Sachin about the significance of this ancient practice, particularly as it relates to our reality today:

The current coronavirus pandemic continues to take its toll on the health of our populations and our economies. Meanwhile, staying at home has prompted us to rediscover traditional practices such as making our food from scratch, reconnecting with our families and friends, and learning to stay fit without going to the gym.  Given that COVID-19 primarily targets lung tissue, incorporating deep breathing exercises into one’s routine may be useful. Traditional yoga breathing exercises, also known as “pranayama,” have been shown to optimize lung capacity, function, and health (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1506070). Further, deep breathing has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, and to improve focus (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3734635/). Perhaps the most relevant results of pranayama practice are self-evident for those who perform these exercises and observe the results in their own body and mind.

Sachin, one of Jones Robb’s talented patent attorneys, is also a certified yoga instructor with several years of teaching experience. Sachin has been leveraging various virtual meeting technology platforms to guide pranayama exercises for healthcare professionals who are working at the front lines to combat COVID-19, and generously shared his instruction with the Jones Robb team today. Sachin believes that anyone with basic knowledge of these skills can and should share their knowledge with others, as we all work together toward making it through this pandemic with minimal collateral damage.

Please remember to check with your healthcare provider before beginning a new routine!