Correct breathing is at the basis of every yoga class. The rhythm and quality of our breath are closely linked to our state of mind. Anyone can observe that the characteristics of our breath change depending on our circumstances in life. It is different when you are reading quietly at home, when you are nervous, or when you are in love. As our mood and thoughts change, so does our breathing.
However, few people consciously make the most of this connection, which also works the other way round. In other words: by changing our breathing, we can also change our state of consciousness. This is why yoga uses breathing exercises (pranayama): through our breath, we can tangibly alter our state of consciousness.
At this point, it is easy to see that the body can be shaped much more easily by practising with a calm mind, without struggling against the body in the different poses.