Breath: Fibre of Life

Life Force: Let us recollect the 9/11 incident at pentagon. Certain wings of the pentagon building were hit by the aircraft & the building was raging with flames & fumes everywhere. One of the trapped officers managed to come out the building just to hear the shocking news that there was another flight targeting pentagon to hit in few more minutes. He was emotionally drained and in utter shock when he heard the rumbling sound of the approaching flight. I was in complete disbelief that his life was coming to an end & the pictures of his family loved ones were flashing in his mind while the sound of the approaching flight became louder and louder. In the neck of this moment and at the brink of his death, all of a sudden he heard the sound of the flight fading away. The next thing that he noticed was the sound of his breath & yes, he was delighted to know that he was still alive. This incident narrates the significance of the breath. Breath is a reminder that we are alive right now, in this moment. But, the question is how much are you aware of your breath in your day today life?

Foundation: Any form of physical exercises such aerobics, swimming, gym workouts, yoga involve the systematic movement of the body. But, the very basic fundamental movement for all of the above starts from the respiratory system. Every breath involves the rhythmic movement of the thoracic muscle & diaphragm. So, it is essential to optimise this engine in order to supply the optimal energy inflow into the body.

Flow: Life is a cyclic pattern of stimulation and relaxation. It is our natural desire to stay relaxed in every possible life conditions. The basic fibre of life is breathing that follows exactly the same cyclic pattern. Each breath alternates with inhalation (stimulation) and exhalation (relaxation). Breathing pattern gets effected by the emotional state. Also, the pattern of breathing varies from person to person.

If one consciously practice breathing sequence that involves prolonging the duration of the exhalation in comparison to that of the inhalation then over a period of time, there is a very good probability that his auto piloted automatic rhythm of the breathing follows the practiced pattern. This style of breathing keeps him more relaxed. So, it makes sense to prolong the duration of exhalation than that of the inhalation.

Personally, the above breathing technique brought down my resting heart rate from 90s to 48. I have noticed such distinguished effect with many of my clients too.

Summary: To move to a state of relaxation, practice the above breathing technique consciously for at least five minutes/day to see the profound effect on your psychic as well as your physiology.