In the yoga meditation path, pranayama (breathing techniques) are often used in a meditation practice. The benefits of doing this are many, the most basic of which is that in altering the way we breathe, we have to pay close attention, which helps us to maintain single pointed focus. Breathing techniques can also help us to feel calmer, more balanced, less cluttered and much more. In today's meditation, we use alternate nostril breathing to to both cleanse and balance our body.