Breathing
Breathing
Breathing
mentally.
Yes, it is.
1 Andrew Weil, M.D., Breathing: An Introduction, http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/ART00519
2 Andrew Weil, M.D., Breathing: An Introduction, http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/ART00519
- DR.
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Guiding Your Breath Toward Improved State of Mind and Body Given that breathing is essential to your energy
and how you feel on multiple levels, breath is often described as the bridge between your mind and body.
Learning to breathe in a way that promotes stronger positive energy is critical to achieving a happier, more
productive state of mind and being.
Training yourself to breathe in a more productive way is a practice you can incorporate at any time, in any
place, whether for twenty seconds or twenty minutes.
In the following pages, you will learn seven exercises that can:
Relax, restore, and rejuvenate you
Increase your energy
Quiet your mind at the end of a busy day
Bring you lasting peace of mind
Reconnect you to your authentic self to rediscover your deepest dreams and desires
Help you to heal from past events
Better enable you to handle challenging emotions, such as anger, fear, anxiety, and others, to lighten your
emotional burden and reconnect you to your inner bliss
5 Deepak Chopra, M.D., Mantra Meditation: A Lesson in Achieving Synchrodestiny, http://www.beliefnet.com/Holistic-Living/2003/10/Mantra-Meditation.aspx (2003)
The following exercises are simple, and can be used by just about
anyone. Keep in mind that learning to quiet your mind and restore
your health and happiness through intentional breathing is a habit
that may take time to master.
Whether in short twenty second bursts or longer stretches, all of
these exercises have the potential to help you live a more fulfilling
lifeparticularly when theyre practiced on a frequent, consistent
basis.
EXERCISE #1: AN INTRODUCTION TO OBSERVING YOUR BREATH
Description: This exercises takes only a few minutes, and is a great
first step toward learning you how to use your breathing
to relax.
Whether sitting in a parked car, your office, or anywhere you
can sit still, take a brief moment to get comfortable.
Close your eyes, and begin to notice your breathing. Dont try
to control it. Just try to focus on it, without judgement.
When your mind begins to wander, gently redirect it back to your
breathing, the rhythmic cycle of inhalation and exhalation. Each
time your mind is distracted by noises, or other thoughts or stimuli,
try to bring it back to your breath.
When you are ready, open your eyes and take a deep
inhalation, followed by a slow, long exhalation.
EXERCISE #2: MOVING YOUR BREATH
Description: In this exercise you will learn to connect with your conscious breathing, and effectively move your breath. Its quick and
easy, and something you should do as often as possible.
Find a comfortable place to sit. Straighten your back, which
helps to make space for more air to move in and out of your
lungs.
Begin by sighing deeply and audibly, and then inhale quietly.
Try to make your breathing as slow, deep, quiet and regular as
you can without causing yourself any discomfort. Throughout this
entire exercise you should always feel that you are getting
enough air.
Repeat this for at least ten breaths.
6 Andrew Weil, M.D., The Art and Science of Breathing, http://www.drweil.com/
drw/u/ART02039/the-art-and-science-of- reathing.html
7 Andrew Weil, M.D., Breathing: Basic How-Tos, http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/
ART00520
Description: When done properly, this exercise will make you more alert. As you
perform this exercise, you will feel the effort in your chest, diaphragm, abdomen,
and at the back of your neck. This exercise is a bit noisy, but can give you a great
energy boost very quickly.
To begin, inhale and exhale rapidly through your nose, keeping your mouth
closed but relaxed. Your breaths in and out should be as short as possible, but
equal in duration.
Aim for three in-and-out breath cycles per second, which produces a quick
movement of your diaphragm. Breathe normally after each cycle.
On your first try, remain seated (with a straightened back), and do not do this
exercise for more than 15 seconds.
Each time you practice the Stimulating Breath, you can increase your time by five
seconds, until you reach a full minute.
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CONCLUSION
As you learn to incorporate these exercises into your daily
routine, you can use your practice of conscious breathing to
lead you toward a happier, more balanced, and successful
life. Over time, you may discover that the benefits of conscious
breathing- better relationships, greater happiness, and lasting
peace of mind, to name just a few - begin to manifest themselves in your life. It is then that you will understand the truly
profound power of each breath you take.