Breathing in a Better Life
Photo by Jakob Owens
Inhale. Exhale. It’s so automatic, we often fail to notice, but the average person takes approximately 24,000 breaths per day, eight million breaths each year.
Inhale. Exhale. It’s also known as “pranayama,” a Sanskrit word which translates into the idea of expanding of our “vital life force” through practicing control of our breath.
Inhale. Exhale. “Just take a deep breath." It’s the most commonly distributed advice when we are stressed or anxious, angry or uncertain, unable to concentrate, or unable to sleep.
Inhale. Exhale. It’s supposed to help us navigate our relationships better, as well as our own internal terrain beneath the surface of our skin, to include our organ functions, our thoughts, feelings and responses.
Inhale. Exhale. It seems too simple and too mundane to actually work.
However —inhale, exhale— if you’ve ever tried it with some consistency, breathing mindfully can seem like some strange sort of everyday magic. Of course it’s more biology than it is magic. Our breath not only oxygenates the blood and releases toxins from the body through respiration, it also has the power to profoundly influence how we interact with the world around us, not to mention our moods and mindsets.
How and why breath practice works
Part of this effect is attributed to the way the act of breathing —inhale, exhale— activates our vagus nerve, the longest nerve in the body that begins at our brainstem and “wanders” throughout nearly every internal organ until it ends at our intestines. This vagus nerve is part of the parasympathetic (rest, digest, detoxify and repair) branch of our nervous system.
We can access our breath in a variety of ways, from taking simple, deep breaths to more complicated practices like nauli kriya. Yet, any form of conscious or mindful breathing boasts incredible health benefits.
Physical benefits:
Conscious breathing strategies can also have a profound impact on our cognitive function and psychological wellbeing.
Cognitive and psychological benefits:
Guided breathwork practice
Take a look at my video to understand why autumn is the perfect season to create breathing practices to fit your lifestyle and explore seven different breathwork strategies, which include:
the ebb and flow of the ocean breath (4:00)
the healing sound of the ujjayi breath (4:55)
the structured 4-7-8 breath developed by Andrew Weil, MD (6:19)
the vagus toning “vrooo” breath developed by Peter Levine, PhD (8:45)
the diaphragmatic 3-part breath (10:00)
the balancing nodi shodhana (alternate nostril breath) (11:30)
Experiment with any or all of these valuable practices available to you to implement almost anytime and anywhere. Inhale and exhale to restore physical and psychological calm and enhanced wellness.
“Breath is the bridge…”
“Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts. Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as the means to take hold of your mind again.”
~Thich Nhat Hanh