Don't hold your breath: what happens when you ignore your breath

In Buddhist meditation, basic practice often involves a mindfulness of breath. One of the main purposes of this mindfulness is to “connect” the mind and the body. If you've ever gone to a yoga class, you might have caught on that breathing is used to connect your breath to your body and then your body to your mind. Why is there such a significance placed upon breath? I think it's because it is an involuntary indicator of both your body and mind. Your breath can indicate how you are feeling physically and mentally. It can also be used to both positively and negatively affect your physical and mental well-being. If you want to test this theory, follow this simple exercise:

1. Notice how you are feeling. Tense, relaxed, anxious, reflective, etc.

2. Begin holding your breath.

3. Keep holding your breath and when you feel like you can hold it any longer, hold it for five more seconds.

4. Notice how your are feeling.

There is a natural reaction to the lack of air exchange in your body. Panic.

If you body does not get enough oxygen, it does not function properly. When you are anxious, stressed, frustrated, or angry, your breath is short and shallow. Although not as dramatic as the feeling of panic from not getting any oxygen, the decreased amount of oxygen is causing additional feelings anxiety.

Now it's easy to see how breath can negatively affect your well-being. Your breath can positively affect you physically and mentally. Take a deep, slow breath.

Reported by NPR, “...deep breathing is not only relaxing, it's been scientifically proven to affect the heart, the brain, digestion, the immune system — and maybe even the expression of genes.” Already your body is beginning to function better allowing you to think more clearly and feel more positively with just one deep breath.

So, don't hold your breath! It's a response to stress to react with shorter, more shallow breaths. The result is continued and heightened experience of the original negative feelings. Just breathing short and shallow could result in a negative feeling that can make for an emotional reaction to an everyday event like spilling the milk.

Conversely, intentional awareness of your breath and “controlling the life force” can reduce stress, benefit your body, and make peace with your mind. No kidding, don't hold your breath. Becoming aware of the quality and length of your breaths can make a difference in the quality of your life. Breathe in and Breathe out.

Try it for your self with this video from Stop Breath and Think https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEfs5TJZ6Nk (They also have an app!)

More about the relationship to Buddhism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anapanasati