Take a Breather…
Isn’t it surprising how easily we take breathing for granted? We’re barely conscious of our breath – unless something stops it or interferes with it. Yet it’s the foundation of our lives. Without the regular intake of oxygen, you wouldn’t be reading these words. No breath – no life. It’s as simple as that.
Despite our occasional cravings and an overwhelming urge to eat, our bodies can survive without food for a surprisingly long time. Even though many people feel hungry just a few hours after breakfast, research indicates that, in some cases, we can last without food for up to ten weeks, though we wouldn’t be able to do very much before we finally expired from starvation. Take away our water supply and we couldn’t expect to live for more than three days. Switch off the air supply, however, and we won’t last for more than three minutes. So, on a minute by minute basis, breathing is the most essential ingredient for life. But, did anyone ever teach you how to breathe? Probably not. It’s just something that we accept as an unconscious, background behaviour. Let’s take a closer look at some very important principles that we need to remember if we’re going to benefit from the habit of deeper breathing.
Let’s face it. Most of the time, our breathing is invisible. You don’t notice when others are inhaling or exhaling, do you? That’s because we prefer to be unobtrusive. It’s part of our inherited survival behaviour. Less movement equates to a lower probability of being spotted by a hungry predator. These ancient instincts are hardwired into our systems. But deeper breathing has been identified as a completely natural way to lower tension, reduce stress, improve digestion, stimulate creativity, encourage better sleep and improve our wellbeing at a truly profound level. The best way to enjoy these benefits is to make deeper breathing an hourly habit that allows you to pause and consciously fill your lungs with life-giving oxygen. Two or three deeper breaths should be enough but a minute or two would be even better.
领英推荐
The ancient Yoga principles of breath control remind us that the throat should always be relaxed when we’re breathing in. As soon as your throat begins to tense, your lungs are full. Feel free to hold your breath for a moment or two before exhaling completely. A slight pause before refilling the lungs will help you to feel calmer and more relaxed. The most important thing is to feel completely comfortable and that means no strain and no pain.
Controlled, rhythmic breathing has been used as an aid to meditation for thousands of years. You might be surprised to discover how effectively you can calm your thoughts and feelings just by slowing down your breathing and taking deeper breaths. It’s a perfect antidote to stress and a powerful switch that enables you to neutralise your fears and anxieties. Make a date with yourself to breathe a little more deeply every hour and notice how much better you feel. It could be the best habit you’ve ever adopted.?