The Importance Of Breath
In Yoga

From the moment we are born to the moment we die, we breathe. We measure life by breath. Breath is more important to us than either food or water. We can go weeks without food, days without water, but only minutes without oxygen. With each breath, we exchange carbon dioxide from inside our bodies for oxygen molecules from the surrounding air. If this process is interrupted for more than a few minutes, the brain becomes starved for oxygen and undergoes irreversible damage.

Breathing affects every system of our bodies and also has a general effect on our memories, our energy levels, and our concentration. Everything we do, the pace we keep, the feelings we have and the choices we make are influenced by the breath.

The rhythm of our breathing varies according to our activities and our feelings. It quickens with physical exertion or emotional upset and it slows down during sleep or periods of relaxation. As an experiment, try to be aware of your breathing when you are excited, angry, surprised and relaxed and notice how it changes.

The majority of people breathe incorrectly and are not aware of it. Instead of breathing deeply, bringing the air down to the bottom of the lungs, where the richest blood supply is, the breath is very shallow, only bringing the air into the uppermost part of the lungs.

How do we break this bad habit and restore healthy breathing in our bodies? One place to start is to become more aware of your breath and evaluate the quality of it. Ask yourself, "where do I feel my breathing?" Can you feel where your breath originates? Do you feel particular areas of your body where the breath is more noticeable, such as the nostrils, the chest or the abdomen? Just be aware of what you feel and notice and do not analyze.

"What does my breathing feel like?" What is the quality of your breathing? Is it rough, labored, jerky or rhythmic? Does it feel smooth or mechanical?

Observe a baby breathe and you will see the tummy rise and fall with each breath. This is diaphragmatic breathing, the way we all initially breathed. The diaphragm is a dome shaped muscle that lies just below the rib cage. As we inhale, it presses downward and as we exhale, it contracts upward, forcing the air out of our lungs. To properly breathe diaphragmatically, the belly should be relaxed so as to accommodate the downward expansion of this muscle.

A good way to experience this is to place your hand on your abdomen, take a deep breath in and feel the movement. That's why this type of breathing is sometimes referred to as "belly breathing." If your are not accustomed to relaxing your belly, you may find first attempts to breathe in this way to be frustrating and confusing. With perseverance, it will become natural.

Begin to be aware of your breath and notice if you are using your diaphragm or just bringing the breath into the uppermost part of your lungs. Where is the most movement, in the abdomen or in the chest? Practice bringing the breath down deep into the lungs, feeling the abdomen expand as the diaphragm moves downward. Take a few "breath breaks" during the day and practice some deep breathing.

Deep breathing is an excellent tool for keeping our bodies in optimum health and reducing stress levels, thus warding off such things as heart disease and high blood pressure. Most modern scientific and medical research supports the belief that proper breathing is a cornerstone to our well-being.