We know how to breathe, don't we? Don't we? Seems that most of did when we were children. When we watch little kids breathing, they breathe right to the bottom of their lungs into their little bellies. Somehow, by the time we are in our teens, we are mouth breathers and chest breathers. Coincidentally this is about the same time we lose our innate childish flexibility. So what happened? Stress, to a varying degree happens. Shallow breathing is the realm of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). So we have some kind of stress, homework, familial stress, the social stress and pressure of trying to navigate our teenage years and beyond, and of course it doesn't get any easier.
We know that the body responds to stress by pumping adrenaline and cortisol into the circulatory system to initiate the 'flight or fight' response. Vessels constrict, blood moves to the extremities and away from the digestive system, heart rate increases, breathing becomes shallow and fast to prime the response to 'fight or flee'. Trouble is, the body doesn't know the difference between modern stress and ancient stress, and what was once a response that happened occasionally, happens to most of us almost continually now, so much so that we become SNS dominant. We stay close to a state of 'hyperarousal' that effects, not only our bodies, but our work and our interactions with others, and even how we perceive ourselves.
To move away from this and re-balance we need to consciously engage our parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). The PNS represents the 'rest and digest' response, where our vessels are dilated, our breathing is deep and healing and restful, our digestion is optimal and our adrenal glands are regenerating and renewing stores of vital hormones.
When we sleep we inhale and exhale through our mouths, and this is our body's greatest time of healing and recovery, though I think to a large extent that the nasal breathing is a protective mechanism to stop some critter crawling into the mouth and choking us in our sleep. :D
How do we get back there, back to a more PNS dominant state? We need to relearn how to breathe. Breathe is somatic, kinesthetic, insightful, emotional, and spiritual as well as physical, mechanical and biochemical. The benefits of breathing are extensive, but at the root of it all, is the fact that when you move greater volumes of oxygen through the lungs, which is transported to the blood, you are improving the PH balance of the blood, thereby reducing acidity and systemic inflammation.
Put time aside to breathe, consciously, inhaling and exhaling through the nose. Do a little experiment and use the nose with mouth closed to breathe, then compare it to breathing through the mouth as deeply as you can. You might find that mouth breathing its not as satisfying.
Conscious, deep breathing in yoga is called Pranayama, or the extension of life force. Its a natural high. I have practiced pranayama for up to an hour at a time and felt stoned, my body a piece of fruit leather by the end. I am convinced that the western yogis and hippies that made the pilgrimage to India in the sixties were looking for that high (amongst other things). I have taught pranayama and have seen the high on students faces, even after five minutes, and especially after Nadi Shodhana Pranayama, (alternate nostril 'channel clearing' breathing). High on Prana, life force. With all of the ensuing benefits that engaging the PNS brings.
Breathe consciously, and deeply, when you can, its absolutely essential to your health. I have only touched on this subject very lightly but I hope this blog entry arouses some curiosity and further investigation on the part of the reader.
Next week, why it isnt asana practice if you dont breathe consciously.
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