Breathing, Our Life Force Energy

Did you know that we breathe roughly 23,000 times a day and take in about 4,500 gallons of air - 25 times that amount during exercise...  Of course it makes sense that this influences our minds, bodies and overall health!  There are three types of "breathers"...  nasal, chest, or belly...  Do you know which one you are?  Here are some clues:  

Nasal breathers breathe only in through the nose (no, really??!).  They do not use their diaphragm thus resulting in a lack of oxygen flow throughout the body.

Chest breathers use only a slight portion of the diaphragm bringing in some oxygen to the entire body, but still not enough for optimum health.

Diaphragm breathers (top answer!) use their bellies - using the full diaphragm to breathe as nature intended.  They bring in the necessary oxygen to feed the body, mind and spirit - yeah!!

Breathing helps the healing process, it empowers you with a tool to help you connect back to the wisdom of the body.  It helps us check in with whats happening on the inside.  The breath cycle is a representation of the life cycle... inhale (a new beginning), space before exhale (a natural ending cycle), exhale (letting go and beginning again).  

Breathing is not just a physical process.  Notice how you feel when you get upset or depressed - your breathing patterns change, and when breathing patterns change so to does your state of mind and emotions.  If you practice focusing on your breathing (diaphragm breathing please) when you are upset, your thoughts and emotions will become stabilized, as well as allowing a more relaxed and at-ease body and mind.  The breath is what brings you back into balance.  So, that being said, I highly recommend practicing belly breathing in everything you do, and notice how life starts to flow with your breath instead of getting stuck where you are!

1, 2, 3, deep breath, pause, and exhale!