On the Natural Breath
Let us talk a little about natural breathing. Most of the time breathing happens unconsciously and automatically and this incredible life-giving action happens through the flow of universal creative intelligence. There is nothing more natural than this! And yet for many of us bringing this to the forefront can be emotionally challenging, perceived as boring or physically demanding. These reasons alone are enough to begin your breathing practice- so we are able to be with that which supports us on the most foundational level.
Take a moment to think where does your breath come from, and what is the force that drives it?
This is the a ‘down the rabbit hole’ type of a question to get you curious and feeling, as breath moves from mystery- it is subtle, energetic, and can only be known from personal experience. Scientific speculation will not offer much tangible benefit here, though it can help us understand the mechanics of a better breath and subsequently better health. Why wonder about natural breath at all? Because within all those unconscious moments of breathing, there is a fully conscious force that holds you alive inside the breath, in the yoga tradition its called prana. And we hope to awaken appreciation, acknowledgement, in fact full on awe to the flow of her, so you can fill right up.
Where awareness goes, energy flows.
Breathing is a natural process and a normal rate is about 12- 18 breaths per minute. When we take notice of the respiratory rate to count it, due to increased awareness the breathing rate lengthens and there are less breaths per minute. Why don’t you try that now. Notice how when you can feel your breath you are more self aware- more able to feel what is happening inside as the mind is quieter ( even for a moment). When you lose the connection to breath, the ability to feel inside is lost too, or certainly it is lessened. The mind then moves out of the body and interacts in the environment- this is how we are most of the time.
In yoga philosophy it is said:
A yogi measures the span of life by the number of breaths, not by the number of years- Swami Sivananda
The slower and deeper those breaths can be- the longer the life. Short and shallow breath is an ageing factor and detrimental to health, where breath length is increased so is life-span. I’m sure you can relate to and have directly felt the impact of stress on how you breathe. The phrase quality over quantity is applicable here. The more conscious we can be of this cosmic interaction of inhale and exhale the more tuned in we are to what is happening around us and within us. Pausing to count your breaths for a minute, or the exercise you just tried, shows the powerful correlation between breath and mind. Breath and energy. Mind and energy.
Breath is fuel (energy) which feeds the body/mind complex but energy (prana) is what supports and ables breath- the two terms are often used interchangeably but refer to different things. Mind is fuelled and moves by prana and is individual or universal in nature. Universal mind is the overarching pattern of intelligence and will as consciousness, individual is our own drive and experience.
In natural breathing there is a seamless blend of universal intelligence and the energy working through the human system- but individual habit, mechanics and experiences can alter and shape the efficacy of this natural breath and how much nutriment is gained from it.
Through breathing with awareness, naturally through the nose, without any special technique, one can gain great benefit. It is the main objective of this simple pranayama to balance the interacting pranic and mental forces for awakening of vital energy. You could do it for 5- 10 minutes a day. You can do it when you remember to do it, so it becomes a ritual, a conscious habit.
When our focus moves within the breath, gently but with concentration- this becomes a simple yet potent meditation. It is very good for the mind, which will respond quickly moving into relaxation on the rhythmic flow of breath. Our brain, body and vitally our heart functions through electrical nerve impulses which are soothed through conscious natural breathing. Yoga and science has proven that memory and concentration is increased through practicing breath awareness, as is self knowledge and understanding. As the connection to the inner world increases, energy in breath can flow more easily through the body, becoming even more nourishing, increasing the potentiality for healing in the increased states of relaxation.
Personally I find one of the highest benefits to be an increase in self trust and/or universal support- perhaps it is the same thing, that in this process of breathing freely and for sometime after i feel anchored and yet fluid- adaptable and steady.
How do you feel ?