What if I told you, you already have that superpower? You don’t need to get anything, go anywhere or change your life? It’s closer that you think, costs nothing and gives you so, so much. Have you guessed yet? If yes, let me know in the comments belowand you will get a prize. Your superpower is your conscious breath.
We can go on for months without food, for days without water, but we won’t survive a few minutes without a breath.There is no life without breath! This is hopefully enough of a statement to get your attention. I want to make breathing sexy! More so than long skinny legs, fancy outfits and insane yoga positions. All those things are fine but they don’t sustain us, they don’t have much meaning, they don’t actually matter at all without a breath. And this is why your conscious breath is your superpower.
It’s fascinating that we don’t talk enough about breath, even in yoga circles. And even when we talk about it, we don’t use it purposefully. It’s little bit like having a Porsche but only driving 30 miles per hour, there is so much more that we can get out of this machine. It’s the same with our lives; we can live much deeper, healthier and happier life when we use our breath consciously. And the best thing is, it is available to you all the time, you don’t need to have any special equipment or abilities or go anywhere. As long as you breathe, you can practice conscious breathing!
There are many benefits of conscious breathing and many techniques but I will keep it simple here and only share with you the most powerful method and just 3 areas of your life that can change as a result of committed practice.
BE IN CHARGE
The breath science in yoga called pranayamais often described as breath control. When we start using any yogic techniques to manipulate the breath - we are being in control of our bodies because the breath alone has a big impact on many internal functions. For example, you can breathe through your left nostril to help you to relax and calm down or through your right nostril when you’re feeling tired and need more energy. When you breathe slower and deeper - your emotional state won’t be that erratic and you will come across calmer and more together. So working consciously with your breath, you’re not just reacting to life as it happens, but intentionally designing every action in alignment with your values and beliefs. You have probably heard before: ‘Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it’. Working with your breath really helps you to react to life is a different, more conscious and positive way.
VITALITY
Yogis knew for centuries that breath rate and breath quality were directly connected with longevity and vitality. Long, deep breathing recharges our body, nervous system, helps digestion and doesn’t overload the heart. Apparently our lives are measured by the amount of breathes we take, the idea is that we come here with defined number of breaths and when we run out of them we die. Interestingly, animals that breathe fewer times per minute tend to live longer, like giant tortoise that breathes about 4 times a minute and lives up to 150 years or more. Dogs, as comparison, breathe 30-40 times a minute and live for about 10-20 years. Humans naturally breathe about 16 times a minute which is somewhere between tortoise and dog and our life spam is somewhere in the middle too. There is another massive advantage that humans have, we can consciously manipulate our breath and breathe deeper, breathe less to live longer! Is this how some yogis lived for 160 years?
STRESS/ TRAUMA/ HEALTH
You probably are aware that your breathing changes when you’re stressed, scared or anxious. Often in those situation we breathe shallowly, quickly and our heart rate variability is low. The heart rate variability measures balance between sympathetic(fight-or-flight response) and parasympathetic(rest and digest) nervous system. When those two parts of our nervous system work well together we have a reasonable control over our responses to disappointments and minor frustrations of life, we can see difficulty of a situation as well as opportunity with a reward at the end and we are more immune to many health conditions including heart disease, cancer, depression or PTSD. In short, when our nervous system is strong we are healthier, resilient, more adventurous and keen to learn, grow and take risks. I really think this is massive! We can improve our wellbeing on so many levels and heal ourselves by working with our breath! And this is not only my thoughts or speculations, the impact of breath on nervous system is now backed up by science and medical professionals recommend it to their patients.
The power of breath can’t be underestimated any longer! Are you with me?
If you’re wondering what to do next, I have a solution. Obviously there are many breathing exercises and techniques. I will keep it very simple here. In my opinion, long deep breathing or one-minute breath is the best place to start. It works on all the aspects I’ve mentioned above. It strengthens and heals your nervous system, helps with stress, trauma, adds to vitality and longevity and allows you to be in control.
This is what we do:
Inhale for 20 seconds (or 15 or 10)
Hold for 20 seconds (or 15 or 10)
Exhale for 20 seconds (or 15 or 10)
And continue for 11 minutes.
Idea is that we do each section for 20 seconds but if that is too challenging for you at the moment start with 10 or 15 seconds and I promise over time your lungs will expand and breath deepen.
It’s great to make it a meditation where you sit crossed legged, however you can do it sitting in the bus, train, waiting in the queue or at a boring meeting (that’s what I used to do lol).
It’s not a magic pill that will work instantly, but after few weeks regular practice you will see the benefits 100%. After few months your life will change.
I’m thinking of starting a regular practice every day in March and it would be great to have you guys joining me. Are you keen? Please let me know so I know who is onboard.
Let’s make breathing sexy! Let’s work consciously with our breath and see how our lives deepen, expand and blossom. Let’s use our superpower!
P.S. As always, any questions, thoughts or suggestions are welcome in comments below!