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Dirga Pranayama: The Three-Part Yogic Breath

Dirga teaches you to breathe with the whole torso — belly, ribs, then chest — instead of only the top of the chest. It is the foundation the other pranayama practices are built on.

5 minutesBeginnerBreath Foundations
Animated guide

How to do it

  1. Lie on your back or sit tall. Place one hand on the belly and one on the chest.
  2. Inhale slowly and let the belly rise first.
  3. Keep inhaling and feel the ribs widen to the sides.
  4. Finish the inhale by letting the upper chest lift slightly under your hand.
  5. Exhale in reverse: chest, then ribs, then the belly gently draws in.
  6. Continue for 5 minutes with no pauses and no force.
Who this is forBeginners to breathwork, and anyone who notices they breathe mostly into the upper chest.
Take careKeep it gentle. If you feel dizzy, breathe normally for a while. After abdominal surgery or during pregnancy, ask your doctor before practising deep belly breathing.
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Master Segar and the SEGA team offer personalised guidance — for individuals, families, offices and schools. Message us and we will walk you through it.

Wellness, not medical advice

These tips are for general wellness and education only. They are not a medical diagnosis, treatment or prescription, and they do not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you have a medical condition or an injury, are pregnant, or take medication, please check with your doctor before starting a new practice — and stop anything that causes pain.

Want a personalised programme, a deeper explanation, or one-to-one guidance? Master Segar and the SEGA team offer private and small-group sessions.