People don’t often think about their body’s automatic actions such as their heartbeat, blinking or breathing. The heartbeat is required to pump blood throughout the body. Blinking moistens and cleans the eyes. Breathing is necessary for life. Have you heard of Healing Breath? You may be surprised to know how using this type of breathing can be beneficial.
The Healing Breath is much more than the breathing you do every day. It is basically learning to control your breath by using both your mind and your body.
Many people don’t realize how their breathing is shallow and possibly doesn’t provide the oxygen the body needs. In fact, how you breathe while you’re sleeping is entirely different from how you breathe while you’re awake. That may explain why you feel more rejuvenated after waking up than during the remainder of the day.
Scientists have begun to realize the importance of breathing technique in helping the body run properly. Depending upon which breathing technique you learn, you may find the following and other conditions improve:
* Asthma
* Bronchitis
* Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
* Panic attacks
* Rhinitis (Runny nose)
* Sinusitis
* Snoring/Sleep Apnea
* Hay fever or other allergies
* Depression
* Handling pain
Ayurvedic Pranayama breathing is very similar to some other breathing techniques. This one, however, is very simple to practice, doesn’t require you to use visualization, and can be practiced nearly anywhere.
The Healing Breath in this format is completed in three different parts, all regulated to a pattern of ‘1:4:2’. Begin by inhaling for the count of one, hold your breath for 4 counts, and exhale for the remaining two counts. Those beginning the Healing Breath begin using higher rates, but the ratio remains the same. For instance, inhale to the count of 4, hold for the count of 16, and exhale for the count of 8. The ratio remains stable.
As you practice this breathing technique and your breathing becomes stronger, you can increase the ratio to 6:24:12 and then to 8:32:16 as you improve further. When you’re first learning this technique, you may want to use a clock with an audible “tick-tock” to help you keep your breaths to one second intervals. Be careful to remain focused during these exercises so you keep your ratio.
Since proper breathing is so important – inhaling which is taking oxygen into the body (purifying the blood) and exhaling which releases waste products and toxins – it’s easy to see why learning the Healing Breath is something to consider. After learning how to breathe properly you may find many of your health issues are reduced or gone entirely.
