Conscious breathing
“When the breath wanders, or is irregular, the mind is also unsteady, but when the breath is calmed, the mind too will be still, and the yogi achieves long life. So one should learn to control the breath.” Hatha Yoga Pradipika 2-2
In yogic breathing exercises, or pranayama, the breath is considered an important link between our physical and mental aspects. “Prana” means life force, or that which is infinitely everywhere, and “ayama” means to stretch or expand.
When we breathe in, air fills our lungs and oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstream, energizing the body. When we exhale carbon dioxide, we are helping our body get rid of toxic wastes. Proper breathing strengthens the physical body, as well as calming and clearing the mind.
In Ashtanga yoga, the aim of breathing consciously is to balance inhalations and exhalations, drawing the mind’s focus inward and facilitating meditation.
Breathing exercises are widely used as a healing tool. “If I had to limit my advice on healthier living to just one tip, it would be simply to learn how to breathe correctly.” (Dr. Andrew Weil)
Physical benefits
- Increases the capacity of the lungs
- Provides sufficient oxygen for the efficient functioning of every body cell
- Reduces the risk of disease
- Helps in digestion by improving metabolism
- Reduces toxins and body wastes
Mental benefits
- Improved concentration and focus
- Better emotional control
- Fights stress and relaxes the body, leading to serenity and peace of mind
Gidday, just dropping by to thank you for your support. I found your article fascinating as I did not realise there were so many benefits, from just breathing. I even looked up breathing on the Internet and found that it is another way to loose weight. Who would have believed that. I wonder if that means I can stop using the walker as a form of exercise.
Regards
Peter McCartney
Sydney Australia
Great article! It’s such a simple yet powerful healing method, but one that is so easy to forget — breathe!
Thank you for the refresher! Going out now to walk Lily the basset and do some deeper breathing!
G’Day Peter. Mutual appreciation… This was my most challenging post to date. The topic is so broad, there is so much information available, and it is such a basic process all of us are continually engaging in. I’ve been pondering it in its energy increasing capacity. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all breathe our way to toned and fit bodies though???
Thanks Mary! It is easy to forget to use breathing as a healing method. I’ve found it can be helpful in dealing with migraines and other pain…
Thanks Danny, I think walking & breathing in nature is the best!!!
When I am stressed I breath slowly and that really calms me down. Sometimes I tend to forget how important it is to be aware of how to breath correctly.
Thanks a lot for sharing! have a great day!