Have you noticed how we tend to breath differently when we are in different moods? When we are relaxed we may be taking deep breaths and when excited or angry it may be quick breaths. When we are shocked we may even stop breathing for a short while. It is indeed true that our mind and our breathing pattern are closely interlinked.
The good news is that we can control our moods if we control our breath. If we find ourselves getting irritated or angry, we only need to regulate our breath for a period of time to make the anger reduce in intensity or even disappear altogether. Likewise, when we are feeling tired and lethargic, we can re-charge ourselves by taking shorter intense breaths.
Yoga practitioners say we can even energise ourselves by breathing in through our right nostril and relax ourselves by breathing in through the left nostril. In fact, there are several breathing techniques taught in yoga which can be used to bring about positive impact not only to our moods but as a cure to several ailments also. There are several meditation techniques which are based simply on watching and controlling our breaths.
Most people are never conscious of their breathing patterns. It is something that happens involuntarily and continuously. If we are aware of the tremendous bearing that our breathing has on our moods and our actions, we will work towards regulating it better. It would be interesting to note that in the animal world, life span is linked to the type of breathing - shorter breaths shorter life and vice versa.
When we watch and control our breathing - initially consciously and through practice - we dramatically improve our lives. We become healthier in body and spirit. Our attitudes, opinions and actions become more balanced. It becomes easier to live a life of values if we simply watch our breaths.
"For breath is life, and if you breathe well you will live long on earth." - Sanskrit Proverb
"A healthy mind has an easy breath." - Author Unknown
"Inhale and God approaches you. Hold the inhalation and God remains with you. Exhale and you approach God. Hold the exhalation and surrender to God." - Krishnamacharya
8 comments:
HI VISH,
Thanks for this...
I'm not clear..how values can be learnt with the breathing exercise...
i know people who have been doing this for years and years, but still without much admirable values ..
Hi Vish,
This is a very important message, you have delivered.
Sri Sri Ravishankar and Sathguru have taken the important of breathing to the masses to a great extent.
i dont know any breathing techniques.
But I take deep breathes and fill my lungs often.
Also when I am tired, I just exhale in short breathes. Some what like pumping air out of lungs.
These two have helped me to a great extent.
I loved the statement by Krishnamachari.
There is also one more thought I like to share.
In Ramayana
Mother Sita is like the jeevathma.
Srilanka is like the human body.
Asuras like the bad karmas.
Now Hanumanji enters into lanka like wind!
Destroys Bad karmas to great extent.
Then Lord Rama, the supreme soul enters Lanka and redeems Mother Sita, The jeevathama after destroying the remaining negatives.
I always think like this and breathe. Every time I breathe I think Hanumanji enters my body, There by making it fit for Lord Rama to enter.
What hanumanji destroys is smaller negatives such as laziness, ill health etc.,
What Lord Rama destroys bigger negatives such as ego, lust, arrogance etc.,
:)
I do watch my breath, Vish :D I just simply watch the coming and going of breath, the source of our life :-) You've highlighted many interesting points...and the comments you received are very enlightening!
Highly spiritual , I must say.
Thanks a lot. Have a great day!
This is very useful to me as I never watch my breath.I like the message that you told here and your way of writing too.
Your 1st question made me to think & it paused me for few seconds.(Have you noticed how we tend to breath differently when we are in different moods?)
I am gonna watch my breath from today.
Thanks to you & God Bless You!
Thank you all for your comments.
Ramesh, your perspective is wonderful. I love it.
Special thanks to Pramoda for asking a question and giving me a chance to clarify.
One of the core values that we all need to cultivate is to be balanced, mature, calm and equipoised. But merely knowing it is not enough.
If we face situations where our reflex action is contrary to our desired behaviour, how do we correct ourselves? There is no point doing things in haste and repenting later.
Breathing techniques, when practiced over a period of time, help us to attain that frame of mind. Our steady, slow and deep breathing makes us more stable and calm. Our actions then become more measured.
So, to live a life of values, right breathing is very important.
As Ramesh suggests, please google on "Isha Yoga" (Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev) and "Art of Living" (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) to know more about this subject.
sincerely
Dear Vish,
I didn't notice Pramoda's question when I first commented.
I would like to add a point to your answer.
Dear sister,
Please do some breathing practice and check out. You will realize that you have better control on yourself than before.
certain things are better understood when practiced.
I can assure you, that you'll start recommending it to others like Vish and me!
Cheers! :)
Though I have read books on right breathing methods, I have never practiced it.
But yes if controlling your breath makes this big difference,I am going to do this from today itself.
I liked the statement of Krishnamacharya.
Post a Comment