Am I really Breathing?
Breathing is something everyone does but there are times I go days in a row without bringing any consciousness to my breath. When it finally hits me, I have to remind myself to slow down, take a second, and inhale deep. It’s amazing how invigorating a deep breathing can feel while also resetting the mind.
You don’t have take my word about this, take a glance a couple age old practices such as pranayama yoga, qigong breathing in tai chi, or Buddhist meditation. All of these timeless disciplines hone in the power of the breath to help focus and calm the mind. My personal experience in these practices are limited but with each session, I’ve learned a great deal on the benefits of controlling your breath. You can take or leave these practices but if you’re still in doubt, keep reading.
Check out this unique individual named Wim Hof. He’s one of those superhumans that can do extraordinary things through deep breathing combined with cold therapy (check out his mini-documentary on vice). The coolest part is that he’s actually not a superhuman and his seemingly extraordinary feats are repeatable. With as little as 10 days of meditation, breathing, and cold therapy during an intensive retreat with Hof, subjects were able to influence their sympathetic nervous system and immune system in the same ways as the Iceman himself. Although it’s a small sample size, here is the journal article that shows a higher WBC concentration, increased pH, and higher oxygen saturation in those who had trained with his breathing methods.
With all that said, I hope you’re ready to take your first step towards mindful breathing. For those who have never tried meditation or breathing exercises before, here’s a little tip… It is challenging! The first time I attempted a meditation session, I was asked to take 30 consecutive deep breaths. As embarrassing as it is to admit, I got to 7 before losing count and getting distracted. My advice is to start slow and practice!
Recommendation: Start with a guided meditation or use transcendental meditation (repetition of a mantra or sound) as an easy way to get started. I like to challenge my clients with a 3 minute body scan for 5 consecutive days either upon waking up or before going to bed.
Whether you choose to dive into the Wim Hof method, tai chi, or just take a second out of your day to take a deep breath, you are taking a step in the right direction. Btw, it’s also the lowest costing stress reliever out there! ;)
