In Part 1 of this article, we explored why optimal breathing is the basis of health and well-being. Besides the obvious fact that breath gives you oxygen and life energy, optimal breathing helps you to de-stress, regulates your heart-rate, brainwaves, and nervous system, facilitates digestion, enhances immune response, and is involved in virtually every aspect of your health.
Consciously breathing well also centers you in the present moment and connects you to your essential being. You can use conscious attention to your breath as a tool to integrate your mind, body, and emotions. You can use it as a basis for self-cultivation and inner mastery. Optimal breathing also just plain feels good. It's a great tool to use at any moment of your life
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Breathing through the nostrils is important because the air we breathe is first filtered in our nasal passages. In his classic text on optimal breathing, Science of Breath, Yogi Rama says:
"The nostrils are two narrow, tortuous channels, containing numerous bristly hairs which serve the purpose of a filter or sieve to strain the air of its impurities, etc., which are expelled when the breath is exhaled. Not only do the nostrils serve this important purpose, but they also perform an important function in warming the air inhaled. " (P. 33, Science of Breath)
Breathing in through the nostrils purifies and warms the air, while breathing out through the nostrils clears the filtered impurities out of your system. Because of that, it's best to practice nostril breathing with your mouth closed almost all of the time. Exceptions to this are during heavy exertion when you need more oxygen and during certain types of cleansing and tension relieving breaths. Also, if you are congested, you'll need to breathe through your mouth until your congestion is relieved.
Yogi Rama goes on to describe the practice of taking a Complete Breath (Science of Breath, p. 47). In the following exercise he gives a good description of what it means to breathe
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This demand for more peripheral circulation further increases the demands on your heart and lungs which further elevates your heart and respiration rates.
Your physiological response to stress may be harmless for a short period of time, but when it becomes chronic your breathing gets locked in a restricted pattern. For many people, restricted breathing becomes normal. As described in last month's article, this creates a downward spiral of negative physiological consequences.
So what can you do? You might say, well, obviously, start breathing through your nostrils with Complete Breaths. Yes, that would be ideal. However, it is not as simple as that. Why? First off, when you try to do that, you will probably try too hard. You will probably try to make it happen correctly. If you have chronic muscle tension already, trying hard will just add to that tension and exacerbate the problem.
This brings us to the third key to unlocking the power of breath:
Breathing Key #3: Allow and follow, don't try and force
The respiratory system undeniably serves a very important function in the body. Anyone who has had any event where they couldn’t breathe normally, or maybe not at all, recognizes the importance and mental peace that comes with being able to breathe stress free.
The simple act of breathing is often taken for granted. As an automated function sustaining life, most of us do not have to think about the act of breathing. However, for many others, respiratory diseases make this simple act thought consuming. Emphysema is one such disease taking away the ease, but instead inflicting labored breathing and a hope for a cure.
...practitioners to maintain a sense of the present while practicing. This breath will keep you self-aware and grounded in your practice. The sound that the breath makes will link your body and mind, and allow you to practice longer by minimizing distractions.
The respiratory system has six major areas that works together that allows the body to breathe, prevent choking, and not to allow harmful debris to enter the respiratory system are some of the functions that the respiratory system does. The respiratory system is divided into two regions, the upper and lower respiratory. The upper respiratory consists of the Nose (nasal) and Pharynx while the lower respiratory embodies the rest of the system which includes the Larynx, Trachea, Bronchioles and Lungs. The information provided will be done by three individuals the upper respiratory tract will be provided by Mr. David Brown, the lower respiratory tract will be given by Ms. Brianna Agee and the infectious diseases will be provided by Mr. Derrek Woods.
If you can sit down in the meditation (lotus) position, that's great, if not, no worries. Either way, all you have to do is be still and focus on your breath for just one minute. Start by breathing in and out slowly. One breath cycle should last for approximately 6 seconds. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, letting your breath flow effortlessly in and out of your body. Let go of your thoughts. Let go of things you have to do later today or pending projects that need your attention. Simply let thoughts rise and fall of its own accord and be at one with your breath. Purposefully watch your breath, focusing your sense of awareness on its pathway as it enters your body and fills you with life. Then watch with your awareness as it works work its way up and out of your mouth and its energy dissipates into the world. If you are someone who thought they’d you would never be able to meditate, guess what? You are half way there
The airway includes the nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles. It carries air between the lungs and the outside elements that surround the body. The lungs are the functional units of the respiratory system and they act as such. They pass oxygen into the body and remove carbon dioxide from the body. Then there are the muscles of respiration. These muscles include the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. They work simultaneously as a pump, pushing air into and out of the lungs during breathing.
Every cell in the human body requires oxygen to function, and the lungs make that oxygen available. With every breath we take, air travels to the lungs through a series of tubes and airways. After passing through the mouth and throat, air moves through the larynx, commonly known as the voice box, and then through the trachea, or windpipe. The trachea divides into two branches, called the right bronchus and the left bronchus, that connect directly to the lungs. Air continues through the bronchi, which divide into smaller and smaller air passages in the lungs, called bronchioles. The bronchioles end in clusters of tiny air sacs, called alveoli, which are surrounded by tiny, thin-walled blood vessels called capillaries.
The nose is divided into the right and left cavities and is lined with tiny hairs and mucous membrane, which secretes a sticky fluid, called mucus, which helps prevent dust and bacteria from entering the lungs. The nose moistens, warms and filters the air and is an organ, which senses smell. The naso-pharynx is the upper part of the nasal cavity behind the nose, and is lined with mucous membrane. The naso-pharynx continues to filter, warm and moisten the incoming air.
The breath is brought into the nose and exhaled through the mouth with slightly pursed lips which should help you to feel a deeper contraction of the abdominals. = == == ==
Sitting with on a cushion seemed easy, so you were sitting as they told you to do, your hands rest in your lap, and your eyes are closed. Listened the speaker: that you should pay attention to your breath and exclude your thoughts. But after a couple of minutes, you were thinking about your next project at work, about colleagues. A few minutes later about what to cook for dinner, and about the mountain of housework waiting for you. You still keep on. The stream of thoughts that flow thorough your mind doesn’t seem to stop. Therefore you try to keep them away and turn back your attention to your breath. It seems OK. Breath in, breath out. Again. Inhale, exhale. OK, nice. So far so good. Finally, you think you are successful
Respiratory System Have you ever felt like you were out of breath. This all falls under the respiratory system. The respiratory system is divided into two different portions. The first portion is made up of the upper airway and the second portion is the lower airway. Muscles, respiratory distress, failure, hypoxic drive, etc.
The nose is where the sense of smell originates. There are two entrances that allow air to enter the nose called nostrils. They are separated by a wall made of bone and cartilage
Breath is a vital element of movement and survival. Breath is what initiates movement and supports our movement. Breath is a connecting factor which connects our body to the movement. If we don’t initiate our movements with breath there will be no fluidity or connectivity and injuries can occur (Longstaff 2007). For optimal body movement one needs to breathe optimally. To be able to breath optimally one needs to breathe three dimensionally. Three dimensional breathing is when inhaling the rib cage expands and the diaphragm moves downwards as an automatic control and exhaling the diaphragm passively moves back into position which pushes the air out a...
Breathing acts as a motor, and it helps prana flow through the body (The Magic of. Meditation). There are thousands of different varieties of yoga, which is how it helps a large number of people in a diverse number of ways. One style is called Ananda. This yoga gains control over delicate energies in the body.
The Mechanism and Regulation of Breathing Breathing is an involuntary movement that is controlled by the medulla, which is part of the hind brain. Air is sucked into the lungs. through an active process called inspiration. The external intercostals muscle contract and the internal intercostals muscle relax this causes. the ribs to be drawn upwards and outwards.