Yoga Glossary · Breath & Energy
Three-part breath (Dirga)
Filling the lungs in three stages — belly, ribs, chest — then emptying in reverse.
Three-part breath (Dirga Pranayama) divides one inhale into three connected sips: first the belly expands, then the ribs widen, then the chest fills to the collarbones. The exhale releases in reverse — chest, ribs, belly — as one long, smooth wave. It is usually practiced lying down or seated, with a hand on the belly and a hand on the chest as guides.
It is the foundational breathing exercise of teacher training because it maps the whole breathing apparatus: students feel where the diaphragm does the work, where the intercostals widen the ribs, and which region their own breath habitually skips. Slow, full and unforced, it is also a reliable downshift for the nervous system at the start or end of practice.
In practice
- Hands are the teachers: belly hand rises first, chest hand last, then everything settles in reverse.
- No pauses or strain — the three parts are landmarks in one continuous breath, not three separate gulps.
- Most people discover one 'skip zone' (often the back ribs). Side bends and practice bring it online.
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The Yoga Glossary is an educational study reference. Definitions are standard yoga and anatomy knowledge in plain language; nothing here is medical advice.