Pranayama (breathing) is the underlying essence of who we are. It drives the essence of who we are and breath moves through the channels of your body bringing us information. We take about 17,000 thousand breaths per day; yet we pay very little attention to our breath. The first thing we do on our own is breathe and the last thing we do is breathe. Breath is a gift that is unappreciated, unrecognized and underestimated. Breathing connects us to the peacefulness within ourselves. Breathing not only nourishes each and every cell by bringing oxygen into the body, it relaxes us and is responsible for our ability to balance and heal the body.
The autonomic nervous system is responsible for digesting our food, elimination, and governs basic bodily functions over which you usually have no conscious ability to influence. These include core physiological functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, regulation of your temperature, hormone levels in your body, and perspiration. Your autonomic nervous system also plays an important role in the regulation of your immune system. Modern neurological science suggests that most people are incapable of affecting these core physiological processes, however, with training I believe you can re-create health within the molecular body. Through breath you can influence your blood pressure, change the flow of your blood, reduce heart rate, and improve the digestive function.
Conscious breath work is capable of overriding the autonomic nervous system enabling us to heal, creating vibrant health. Energy flows through the left (ida) and right (pingala) sides of our body and travels upward through the sushumna (or spine); our body will shift channels from left dominance to right dominance every 90 minutes. Connecting with your breath will strengthen your lungs, heart, brain, and your whole body will be rewarded with increased vitality, clarity, and a deeper focus on your intentions and desires. Paying attention to your breath, just may return your body back to its natural pattern of health, it has mine.
Remember full deep breaths, and it’s free.
Deborah Shemesh
