Pranayama is a breathing technique employed in yoga. It entails deep loud breathing through the nose. Essentially, it is the art of controlling ones' breathing.
Loud breathing is acceptable if one is engaged in a yogic activity. The two essentialities here are 1)
controlling the breath and 2) being involved in exercise (yoga).
Slumber is another moment where heavy breathing may be permissible. This is true only if the individual sleeps alone. Also, regrettably, breath is uncontrollable while sleeping.
Loud breathing through the nose is not acceptable if an individual is engaged in any other activity that does not involve exercise or sleep. To be astutely clear, listed next are moments where loud breathing may be inappropriately implemented.
- when sitting behind someone who is taking a test (also, if one were to bounce one or both feet on the desk in front of them)
- when in a quiet public setting (like a library)
- while eating (the chances are good that if someone is a loud breather during feeding time, they are also a smacker, which means they definitely don't have friends)
- in an elevator. It's just gross and creepy.
- in an office that you share with other people
There is a time and place for everything. Heavy nasal breathing should be saved for two very special occasions: sleep and exercise.
