I have always had a strong interest in the anatomy and physiology of our bodies. The respiratory system is one body system that tends to get very little attention. When I talk to people about their breathing, it is always revealing to discover how little they know about their lungs or the process of the breath. Yet without breathing our physical form no longer functions and death occurs. With the exception of the heart, blood vessels and esophagus, the chest cavity is filled with the 3 lobes of the lungs. The lobes of the lungs extend from just above the collar bones down to the diaphragm below the rib cage. With effective breaths, there is movement in the body from your shoulders down to the abdomen. A small child knows how to breathe to make use of the full lung capacity. It is worth observing the obvious movement that occurs in a child’s chest and abdomen with each breath.
It is true that our breathing is automatic and carries on even without our conscious participation. Yet if we wish to ensure that our bodies are receiving the optimum levels of oxygen then it is important that we take on a more active role in our breathing habits. Similar to developing better habits in any aspect, one must first make a decision to do it differently. Then one needs to make a conscious effort to breathe effectively.
Effective breathing brings adequate oxygen levels to the body and removes carbon dioxide.
Excess carbon dioxide results in an acidic condition of the body which allows infectious
agents to flourish. The following exercise is an example of a tool to improve your breathing.
Breathing is a Gateway to Happiness
Sometimes we may forget how powerful and wonderful a very simple breathing exercise can be. The benefits of this practice are re-energizing your body, releasing tension and stress, and enhancing your creativity for finding solutions while facing your daily challenges.
Basic Breath Series
- Sitting in Easy Posture, close off right nostril with right thumb and breathe long and deep through the left nostril, 3 minutes.
- Change hands and close off the left nostril, breathing only through the right nostril, 3 minutes.
- Repeat breath through the left nostril, 1 minute.
- Repeat breath through right nostril, 1 minute.
- Using thumb and little finger, close alternate nostrils so that you inhale through left and exhale through the right. 1 to 3 minutes.
- Reverse the sequence and inhale through the right and exhale through the left 1 to 3 minutes.
- Inhale through both nostrils and begin Breath of Fire (pumping your naval point without interruptions, at your own pace, one minute and gradually increasing). The benefit of this Breath of Fire is a deep cleansing of the circulatory system.
- Lay down arms by the sides, palms facing up, breathing long and deep, legs slightly apart 5-10 minutes.
Relax 5 minutes.
Seventy percent (70%) of the cleansing of toxins happens in our body through the Breath. Through breathing exercises, we detoxify our body as well as our mind from toxins and old limiting thoughts.