Breathe, The Ins and Outs of Life

By Dwight Bonair

Breathing is vitally important for humans to sustain life on Earth. Our breath is the bridge from our body to our mind, the element which reconciles our body and mind and which makes possible one-ness of body and mind. Breath is the tool, which can bring them both together, illuminating both and bringing both a scene of peace and calmness. Many people have gotten out of their natural flow and have consequently lost awareness of their breath. There is a strong correlation between reactions to life events and our breathing. The average person’s breathing mechanism is functioning at a fraction of its full potential. Too many people regularly take insufficient shallow breaths that only partially fill the lungs, or, even worse, some people will forget to breathe when stressed or overwhelmed by emotional or physical pain.

Most of us are familiar with the term “fight or flight,” also known as the stress response. It’s what the body does as it prepares to confront or avoid danger. When appropriately invoked, the stress response helps us rise to many challenges. But trouble starts when this response is constantly provoked by less momentous, day-to-day events, such as money woes, traffic jams, job worries, or relationship problems. The stress response also suppresses the immune system, increasing susceptibility to colds and other illnesses. Moreover, the buildup of stress can contribute to anxiety and depression. We can’t avoid all sources of stress in our lives, nor would we want to. But we can develop healthier ways of responding to them.

When you understand and experience the influence your thoughts and emotions have on your breathing and body, you can make the necessary changes. You can learn how to use your breath to center yourself while processing through and pulling yourself out of negative states. Using certain breathing techniques, you can harmonize with the flow of life and your natural rhythm and proper breathing profoundly affects spiritual connectedness and consciousness.

Breath awareness is an excellent tool for centering oneself, initiating present mindedness, and fostering a spiritual connection with the universe. It is the foundation of a very powerful self-directed healing process. Breath therapy is a vital component for health, and an invaluable tool for personal growth. Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as the means to take hold of your mind again, to practice conscious breathing is to open the door to enter the domain of concentration and insight.

Through breath therapy, one can re-educate the body to breathe fully and effortlessly by implementing correct diaphragmatic or abdominal breathing. Such a therapy has shown numerous results in dealing with all levels of pain, trauma therapy and in depression treatment facilities. This is Conscious Breathing in practice, a revitalizing and purifying force that is consciously used for spiritual growth and evolution. In the yogic traditions, mastery of the science of breath is the process that enables one to still the mind and turn inward. When the mind is still and calm, it provides such a clear surface that our true nature is naturally reflected back to us. So without a clear and still mind one is subject to the bondage of the mind’s attachments, distortions and projections. There are many breath control techniques such as Pranayama, Pranayama is the science of breath control, as proper breathing from a yogic point of view. It brings more oxygen to the blood and the brain and it also helps to control prana or life energy.

Here is one way on how you do it:

1. In a sitting position, sit up straight to maximize breathing space during yoga practice.
2. While inhaling, expand lungs as far as they possibly can go.
   1. Raise clavicle (collarbone), shoulders and rib cage while inhaling.
   2. Simultaneously, fill abdomen and gently push diaphragm lower while inhaling.
   3. Fill lungs with air and hold for a moment before exhaling slowly.
   4. Repeat as many times as desired.

There are many ways the most important thing is to find one that fits you and put it in your regular regimen for successful results.

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