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Breath is life. As the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote, "He lives
most life who breathes most air." Whenever we feel we "haven't had time to
breathe," it is a sign that anxiety has taken control of our lives and we
are no longer acting in our own best interest. External stress and
pressure as well as internal emotional conflict trigger anxiety, and our
body reacts by tightening the chest and stomach muscles. We hold our
breath in an attempt to stay in control. This further restricts
respiration and produces shallow, rapid breathing. Shallow breathing numbs
our feelings and traps the anxiety inside, which in turn triggers more
physiological arousal, sending us up the anxiety escalator and then later
down into depression.
Breathing naturally and fully allows us to feel our feelings and
release the anxiety. One of the best ways to handle any episode of
emotional stress is simply to feel the feelings and keep breathing.
The entire autonomous nervous system (and through it, our internal
organs and glands) takes its cue from our breathing patterns. By changing
our breathing we can influence hundreds of biochemical reactions in our
body, producing more relaxing substances such as endorphins and fewer
anxiety-producing ones like adrenaline. Mindfulness of the breath is so
effective that it is common to all meditative and prayer traditions. Our
word "spirit" comes from the Latin word for breath.
Modern life has resulted in vast numbers of people who are afflicted by
the respiratory equivalent of anorexia. Most people today simply do not
breathe in sufficient oxygen for their body's optimal functioning.
In the holistic counseling and coaching work I do with my clients I
have found breathwork to be one of the most powerful tools for changing
deep-seated mental and emotional patterns. Since the breath goes to every
cell in the body, even stress and trauma patterns that have become
embedded in the tissues themselves can be released. Long-standing health
problems can often be alleviated.
Time spent becoming aware of our breathing habits is well worth it. We
breathe at least 20,000 times a day so even a small change toward more
relaxed, full and abundant breathing brings great rewards. That small
change when multiplied by the 20,000 breaths we take a day becomes a big
change in our energy level and our sense of well-being.
Treat yourself to some relaxing breaths right now. Let the air flow
deeply into your belly and then let it fill you all the way up to your
shoulders. Then relax and release the air slowly and completely. Repeat as
needed!
Read more articles by Robert Gerzon online at:
http://www.gerzon.com
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