Conscious Breathing Can Change Your Energy
Most people rarely pay attention to the act of breathing – we trust our lungs to do their job automatically day in day out, keeping us alive. Unless our respiratory system is weak, we usually take breathing for granted.
Many of us only take shallow breaths. Because we do not use our full lung capacity to bring in air, it actually makes us somewhat oxygen-deprived. Our metabolic processes slow down to conserve oxygen, so we might feel sleepy or sluggish or our digestion might be upset, for example.
When our metabolism slows down, our cells replace themselves less often, so we age faster. We no longer have the energy to do the activities we used to enjoy. Our muscles and bones become weaker and more susceptible to injury. Our minds become duller and our thinking more confused.
But learning how to breathe consciously and deeply can reverse these symptoms and even slow down aging.
It is also a useful skill that can help you in other ways in daily life. For example:
• When in physical pain, deep breathing calms your mind and helps to heal or reduce the pain in your body.
• When you are emotionally upset or traumatized, taking a few deep breaths can reduce anxiety and bring your body, mind and emotions back into balance.
• When confused, stuck or stressed, taking a few complete breaths can bring you back to the present moment. It becomes easier to start afresh.
• When you experience self-doubt or despair, proper breathing can help to energize you and help you to see life from a more positive perspective.
So what is the best way to breathe? Here is a simple breathing exercise that you can use anywhere, anytime, to bring your body back into balance and relax your mind: First, take a deep sigh and empty all the air from your lungs. Next, inhale while slowly counting to four until your lungs are full. Then, breathe out while slowly counting to four until your lungs are empty. Repeat this procedure until you feel the body begin to relax.
You can safely use this exercise whenever you find yourself thrown off balance by some person or event. Try doing it at home, in your car, at the office, in a line up anywhere – traffic, bank, store, during exams, at a doctor’s office, for example.
Breathing deeply takes conscious effort at first, at least until it becomes a new habit. Keep your focus on the breath. Don’t let your mind be distracted by what’s happening around you. (If you are driving, it’s best to pull over for a couple of minutes, while you do this.)
Breathing reminds us of our mortality, for we can’t live without it. Yet, used wisely and consciously, breathing can be a powerful tool for creating a more whole and vibrant life.
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Regarding breathing when traumatized, there’s actually an instinctive response available which can enhance healing if we are conciously aware of what it does and why. If you remember a past injury, you may realize you were taking huge gasping breaths. That brings in lots of energy, and the pain provides an automatic intense focus about where that energy will be sent, and your hands automatically go to squeeze or hold the injured area. This can be surprisingly effective even for severe injuries. If there’s a bystander who’s an intuitive empath she/he will feel the pain and be moved to participate by putting the hands on the person, or person’s injury and take deep breaths, which does what? Contributes additional energy for emergency repairs until the pain subsides.
Here’s a personal example: In about 1990, I was doing stunts on my bicycle, and I fell, twisting my ankle awkwardly. The pain was overwhelming, and I sat clutching my ankle, taking huge gasping breaths for an eternity of perhaps 10 minutes. As the pain diminished, I started to ponder getting myself home, so I stood up and tried putting weight on my foot. I discovered I could stand on it and reasoned it can’t be broken then. For the next week of work I limped around on it which wasn’t too bad because I had an office job at the time. There wasn’t much swelling, but it was still black and blue. At the urging of a co-worker, I went to get it x-rayed the following saturday. The x-ray showed a crack just above the ankle joint. So having walked into the hospital, I came out with a cast and crutches. That experience is less intense than but similar as the experiences described by Marlo Morgan on p.89 of her book Mutant Message Down Under, and by Adam on p.89 of his first book Dreamhealer isbn 0-14-305376-0 .
Hi there, great website! I’m trying to contact you re permission to use some of your ideas in a book that I’m writing but the link on your contact page is broken.
Thanks!
Lesley
Hi Lesley,
Thank you for your comment. I’d like to hear more about your book! I will email you privately with the contact info.
Cheers,
Gail