Breathe well, live well

Loosen your belt and practise the healing power of breath as shown by Darshan Goswami, MS, PE

- Darshan Goswami

Without breath, there is no life. Breathing is a vital part of life. It helps deliver oxygen into your bloodstream and remove carbon dioxide. Two basic ways of breathing are chest breathing and deep breathing. With deep breathing (also called diaphragmatic or abdominal breathing), you always inhale and exhale through your nose, not your mouth. The breath should engage the diaphragm rather than the chest.

Breathing is influenced by thoughts and physiology which, in turn, can be influenced by breath. It is important to recognise that the mind, body, and breath are intimately connected and, therefore, equally impact our wellness. Learning to control our breath is one of the most powerful ways to enhance physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. You can understand essential truths about life by paying attention to your breath. Through the breath, you can also access deep states of effortless meditation.

The science of deep breathing

Most meditation techniques are based on deep breathing. In the ancient yogic teachings, this practice is called pranayama, or expanding the life force using the breath. The expression is derived from two Sanskrit words: prana (life force) and ayama (expansion). A fundamental principle of pranayama is to inhale through the nostrils. The yogic teachings contain many different pranayama exercises that can help you heal the body and focus the mind during meditation or yoga.