STOP. CLOSE YOUR EYES AND TRY HOLDING YOUR BREATH…
How long? Probably… not… that… long.
That was just to remind us how breath is fundamental to life – when denied it we die, yet we can so easy undervalue it.
Our brain controls respiration automatically. The body breathes itself without us doing anything. We don’t have to think about it, so we get on with life – which is obviously extremely useful!
So because we don’t need to remember to breathe it’s very easy to overlook it.
Yet how we are breathing from moment to moment directly affects our health and well-being. It affects how we think, feel and function. This puts a lot of power in our control, so it is very foolish to overlook it… I hope this writing is a reminder for us all not to do this.
How well we are at that time is reflected in our manner of breathing.
An ideal respiration perfectly suits whatever we are doing. Some actions require more oxygen than others.
When feeling short of breath we might breathe through the mouth for a faster intake of oxygen, but generally we are designed to breathe through the nose.
The nose warms and filters the breath. The nostrils take turns to be dominant.
Certain physical factors can lead to mouth breathing, but it is also commonly a result of habit.
I am a habitual mouth breather, and sometimes to breathe through the nose can feel very claustrophobic!
Fortunately, better breathing patterns can be reclaimed with benevolent patience. I do try and notice, but at times such as during sleep I too easily slip back into my habit.
A person may be unaware how they are compromising their breathing by falling into such a habit. Or maybe they do know what harm they’re causing through a habit like smoking – but the urge to smoke has greater power than the desire to stop.
We can easily adapt to the unnaturalness of things like smoking.
Unnatural things can come to feel like normal. Addiction always has a price.
Adaptability is a positive human quality, but we can adapt to bad routines as well as good ones.
Quality and rhythm of breath affect mental state. An erratic breath can unsteady; a full deep breath can empower; a soft and long exhalation can calm the nervous system and help quieten the mind.
It is empowering to be aware of this, recognise when there’s a need for it, and put it into practice.
Poor breathing habits can creep up on us gradually. Then when muscles and fascia of belly and ribcage become stiff and resistant, the poor lungs will simply forget what a full deep breath feels like, because it just feels like normal, and the new normal is rubbish.
Better habits are easily rediscovered, with patience, with practice and a dollop of good humour to help make them stick.
The soft belly has associations with instinct and emotion – in other words, gut feelings.
We may tighten the abdomen whilst managing a stressful situation, then when the crisis has passed forget to let go of it.
Letting go of the belly during restful inhalation massages abdominal organs, exercises the diaphragm, and soothes and helps calm us – if we remember to do it!
Restoration can be rapid, but be prepared for the potential surge of strong emotion upon such unfamiliar releases of tension. Do not underestimate the power of the breath.
Fast and shallow breathing may be perfect for a quick response in urgent action, but continued for more than a short period it causes strain and malaise.
Breathing as if under stress long after stress has gone, will manifest in most unfortunate ways.
Living under chronic stress will kill us in the end.
Tragically, many of us do have poor and stressful patterns of breathing. I know this from personal experience and from teaching yoga. It seems even more tragic when it’s avoidable.
One could spend a lifetime paying the breath little attention, unaware of the force we have within us.
Optimum respiration is much more than an efficient processing of gases; it is a key to health and happiness. All we have to do is appreciate and notice.
I simply want to mention I’m beginner to blogging and site-building and actually enjoyed you’re web site. Likely I’m want to bookmark your site . You definitely come with wonderful posts. Thanks for revealing your blog site.
Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read anything like this before. So nice to find anyone with some original thoughts on this subject. realy thank you for starting this up. this website is one thing that is wanted on the internet, somebody with a little originality. helpful job for bringing something new to the web!
This is the best weblog for anyone who desires to find out about this topic. You understand a lot its nearly arduous to argue with you (not that I truly would want HaHa). You positively put a new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, simply nice!
It’s best to participate in a contest for among the best blogs on the web. I will suggest this website!
very good post, i definitely love this web site, keep on it
I simply want to say I am very new to blogs and definitely savored you’re web page. Very likely I’m going to bookmark your site . You certainly have great well written articles. Thanks a lot for revealing your blog site.
WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..extra wait .. ?
It is best to participate in a contest for among the finest blogs on the web. I’ll recommend this site!
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!?
Once I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now every time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can take away me from that service? Thanks!
So sorry1 I’m not much of a tech wizard I’m afraid, hope it is resolved soon.
very good post, i actually love this website, carry on it
I enjoy you because of your own efforts on this web page. Gloria really likes setting aside time for investigation and it’s really obvious why. We hear all concerning the lively tactic you deliver very important things by means of the web blog and increase contribution from people on the area while our own girl is without a doubt understanding a great deal. Enjoy the remaining portion of the year. You are always carrying out a terrific job.
I definitely wanted to make a small message so as to appreciate you for all of the great ideas you are giving on this site. My particularly long internet look up has at the end been compensated with brilliant ideas to write about with my contacts. I ‘d believe that we website visitors are really endowed to live in a superb place with very many special professionals with helpful ideas. I feel truly grateful to have discovered the web pages and look forward to so many more amazing minutes reading here. Thanks a lot once more for a lot of things.
I am typically to blogging and i really respect your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and hold checking for brand spanking new information.
very good submit, i certainly love this website, carry on it
I have to show my appreciation to you just for rescuing me from this difficulty. Right after scouting through the online world and obtaining opinions which were not helpful, I figured my entire life was over. Living without the approaches to the problems you’ve fixed by means of this review is a serious case, as well as the ones which may have negatively damaged my entire career if I hadn’t discovered your web page. Your actual ability and kindness in touching almost everything was very useful. I’m not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t come across such a thing like this. I can also at this point look ahead to my future. Thank you so much for this reliable and sensible help. I will not think twice to propose your blog post to any person who wants and needs assistance about this issue.
There are definitely a variety of particulars like that to take into consideration. That is a great point to bring up. I take the thoughts above as general inspiration however clearly there are questions just like the one you deliver up where a very powerful thing can be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if finest practices have emerged around things like that, but I am positive that your job is clearly identified as a good game. Both girls and boys really feel the influence of just a second抯 pleasure, for the rest of their lives.