Stephen Swords on the breath
Our normal breathing rate is 15 breaths per minute, 900 breaths per hour, 21,600 breaths per 24 hours.
Breath is what is closest to us. It is tangible, understandable and controllable. The gentle inhalation and exhalation sustains us, calms us, influences our thoughts, and is itself influenced by our activities, feelings, and thoughts. We all experience this daily, and yet the breath is often ignored or forgotten. Many people have unhelpful breathing patterns or rhythms without realising. Such as shallow breathing, mouth breathing, holding the breath or sighing. The constant rhythm of inhaling and exhaling gives us the nourishment to live and eliminates waste products that we would choke on if we could not let go of them. This cycle runs throughout our lives, whether we are aware of it or not.
There is a connection between our breath and our thoughts and actions. Breathing is an essential physiological function that occurs automatically to provide oxygen to the cells of the body and remove carbon dioxide, which helps maintain overall bodily functions. However, the relationship between your breath and your mental and physical state is actually significant.
My introduction into the power of breathing came while I was studying my Thai Yoga Massage diploma and was receiving a treatment from my teacher and was deep breathing to help me soften my body to allow the techniques to get deeper release. I was having almost out-of-body experiences. It stayed with me as a memory until I was in India and started to practise pranayama with my yoga teacher. This is a practice based around different breathing techniques, breath retentions, prana (vital life-force), energy bodies, energy pathways. I was immediately fascinated and intrigued by its subtle, yet powerful effects on me. It is a mainstay in my daily practice to this day. It has become what I focus on most with myself and clients. As I noticed the patterns I had around my own breathing, I was witnessing the same sort of patterns with my clients. Problems that had been chronic were being addressed with more focused breathing. Amazing.
There are many different styles/techniques of breathing exercises. I practice pranayama and yogic breathing as an individual practice and alongside my yoga asana practice. This is designed to bring awareness to our breath and regular rhythm and beneficial pattern to aid overall well-being, something you can do yourself daily.
There are more intense styles such as Transformative Breathwork and Holotropic Breathing. If you want to move into trying a breathing class, be mindful of what you would like to experience. Pranayama and yogic breathing have their roots in Yoga and Eastern traditions such as Buddhism where the breath is focal point for mindfulness and a number of the meditation practices.
Many of the older traditions honour the breath in their texts. The Holy Spirit or Spirit is often mentioned alongside or as the breath…God breathes life into Adam…. the word inspiration, In-Spirit, for example, reference maybe to how we receive inspiration, we inhale it.
In yoga texts, a meditation focused on the inhale and exhale has a mantra, So’Ham/So’Hum or I Am That. So, for the sound of the inhale through the nostrils and hum, as the sound of the exhale.
Developing a regular breathing practice, such as yogic breathing or diaphragmatic breathing offers wide range of physical, mental and emotional benefits. Here are some of the key advantages.
Stress reduction, improved lung function, better oxygenation, enhanced focus and concentration, anxiety/depression management, stress related pain relief, lower blood pressure, boosted immune system, improved sleep emotional regulation, detoxification, increased self- awareness, mind, body connection.
It really is a tool for everybody. Obviously, there are always exceptions in the extremes. The power of the breath is adaptable to the breather with some guidance. It is something we do all day every day, why not do it as best we can? We don’t need special equipment, a special place or membership, special clothes. We need the desire to do it for ourselves. Take a breath, breath in, open your heart, breath out.
Email: stephenswords@gmail.com
Website: Stephenswords.co.uk
Tel: 07892 673900