Breath and Drug Free Living
Health is not simply the absence of sickness.
Importance of breath in spirituality
Buddha told...if you can observe your breath for an hour, WITHOUT any thoughts, then you will become enlightened !!!
Enlightenment ...so easy ?! Try observing your breath for just 5 minutes, WITHOUT any thoughts. You will come to know how difficult it is !
Buddha
Breath and longevity
Few species of giant tortoises live for more than 200 years. What's the secret behind their astonishing life span ?
| Breathing rate | Life span | |
| Galapagos tortoise | 3-5 times/min | 200+ years |
| Human | 10-14 times/min | 100+ years |
| Rabbit | 30-60 times/min | 8-12 years |
So, the number of breaths in a minute and life span are inversely proportional.
And here comes the next question, how to bring down the number of breaths per minute ? It's quite possible through particular Pranayama practices.
And through Yoga, one can learn to use the lungs to their maximum capacity and to control the breath. Proper breathing should be deep, slow and rhythmical.
Breath and mind control
You might have noticed that your breathing pattern varies according to your mental state. For example, when you are relaxed, calm and composed you have deep breathing at a slower rate. And when you are agitated your breathing is shallow and fast.
If you want to control your mind, say you want to become calm, then ordering your mind like "Hey mind relax, please relax..." won't work or it might be too difficult. Because mind is like a monkey ! It won't listen to you.
Rather if you control your breathing pattern (which you can do very much) you can change your mental state. Take few deep breaths at a slower rate...that's it...you are relaxed !
Breath is the best tool to take control over one's mind.
Yogi
(Image courtesy - Tanumanasi-Wikipedia)
Simple breathing exercise for you
Deep breathing (or) Abdominal breathing (or) Diaphragmatic breathing (or) Belly breathing
- Lie down on your back.
- Keep your left hand closer to body with palm facing upward.
- Place your right palm on upper abdomen, where the diaphragm is located.
- Close your eyes.
- Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose. As you breathe in, let your abdomen expand so that it pushes the hand resting on it out. (Breathe only as deep as comfortable and don't overstrain yourself)
- Exhale through your nose slowly and deeply enough to allow the abdomen to cave in and feel the hand resting on it coming back down.
- Continue this way, have focus only on the right palm on the abdomen - going up & down gently, without any other thoughts, for five minutes and check your relaxation levels !
Are you a smoker ?
"Cigarette is a pipe with fire at one end and a fool at the other !"
Don't get offended by this overstated quote. Many intellectuals and professionals smoke too. But they are just unaware of or perhaps ignored the following very basic fact in our respiratory system. That is,
"Lungs require oxygen but definitely not nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide !"
So kick the butt ! Breathe only oxygen !
For more interesting information about smoking, click here !
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