Relaxing with the use of Proper Breathing Techniques

Relaxing with the use of proper breathing techniques will help to ground you during those moments when you feel like the world is squeezing you like a tube of toothpaste. While there are many effective breathing modalities, learning just one simple yet powerful breathing technique can help regulate the body’s energy, calm an active mind and bring clarity to complicated situations.  I like to use the following simple to learn technique in the morning when I awake and in the evening right when I am about to retire.  This easy to learn breathing exercise has only 2 components: Feeli ng and Hearing. The reason for simplicity is that when you ask the brain to focus intently on just 2 tasks it manages to relax and disengage from the millions of other, mostly useless, thoughts and tasks it is trying to juggle throughout the day.  When our environment keeps the mind tied up with deadlines, to do lists and other items, it becomes impossible for us to unwind and relax!

Feeling Feel your breath as it first enters through your nose and follow its flow as it gently moves into your diaphragm and on to your expanding lungs. Now feel the exhaling of the breath as you release it from your lungs back through your diaphragm and out through your mouth. Remember, when consciously breathing, the flow of oxygen should always be IN through the nose and OUT through the mouth. Hearing Hear your breath as it enters and passes through the nose, into the diaphragm and finally into your expanding lungs.  Continue listening as it reverses direction and comes back out through the mouth. So the actual breathing technique is done like this… In a quite space without disturbances sit in a chair with both feet firmly connected to the ground.  Place your hands on your knees with palms facing down. No matter how comfortable, DO NOT keep the tips of your thumb and index finger touching or facing towards the ceiling as described by many traditional meditations.   Now start to “feel” your breath as air enters through your nose, moves down to your diaphragm and into your lungs.  As you breathe out “listen” to your breath as it exits your lungs, then the diaphragm and finally out through your mouth.  Once again, remember to breathe out through your mouth and not your nose! Repeat this process for about 5 minutes and really feel and hear your breath as it enters and exits your body. You are going to be amazed at how much more aware you are of things going on around you when you master this simple breathing technique and consistently use it both morning and night.  I liken it to being more tuned in, with less emphasis being placed on the chaos of your outer environment and the encroachment of the outer world. Namaste, San Dan Yi