Here is a simple explanation of our Breathing Mechanism
When you breathe properly
(that is with the mouth closed so that
the air is inhaled through nasal passages) oxygen travels down the pharynx
(rear of the throat), the larynx (roughly in the area of Adam's apple),
and the trachea or windpipe until it reaches the bronchial tubes. By then
most of the dust and bacteria have been filtered out by the mucous
membranes, or the moist lining of the nose. Mucous, by the way, in
addition to acting as a filter substances, also has certain germicidal
properties-another reason why it is so important to cultivate the habit of
breathing though the nose. A third reason is
that while traveling this somewhat longer road the air is warmed to proper
body temperature, which means extra insurance against catching colds.
After
having thus filtered and warmed, the supply of air moves on from the
bronchiae into the lungs. Here it enters millions of cells-600,000,000 of
them to be exact, if you can visualize such an astronomic figure-each of
which is a tiny air sac. Surrounding these is a network of equally tiny
blood vessels or capillaries. The blood absorbs the fresh oxygen directly
through the cell walls at the same time as it rids itself of the carbon
dioxide from the last trip.
Next the freshly oxygenated blood
travels to the heart. The heart pumps it via arteries and blood vessels to
every part of the body, where in turn it seeps into every tissue and bone
cell. In this manner 800 quarts of blood pass through the heart and lungs
every hour. Small wonder, then that the condition of your heart so closely
governs you life expectancy !
By now it should be amply clear why
both a proper technique of breathing and the quality of the air we take in
are of such vital importance to our general health.
The practice of deep breathing produces immediate beneficial results.
The person begins to experience lightness of body, an absence of restlessness, better digestion due to an increase in the flow of the gastric juices, clearing and smoothing of the skin. The physiological benefits
I have already explained-now let the person discover for himself how quickly these will come to him once he establishes a daily routine of exercises. As for the spiritual well-being that will
follow - the inner lightness, the serenity- it matters little whether you attribute them to oxygen burning out the wastes and poison in your
gray matter or to more subtle
influences, the important thing is that
it is all yours to enjoy at will.
From about fifteen breath a minute-or 21,600 each 24 hour-you will have reduced your tempo by possibly three breath a minute, which is twenty percent, or 4,320 per day. Such a slowing-down means a corresponding easing of the wear-and-tear on the entire body-less work for the heart, lower blood pressure, a relaxation of body tensions, and a quieter nerves-in short, still another way to lengthen the years of your life and make them enjoyable !
The main problem with most of us
is to learn how to keep breathing deeply continuously. We are
so much accustomed to normal shallow breathing that it seems very
difficult to adopt a habit of deep breathing. Since we start taking
breath from the moment we come into this world, breathing has become an
old habit. And if we are taking shallow breath (which in all likelihood we
do), it is really difficult to alter this habit of shallow breathing and
replace it with a new habit of deep breathing. However, it is not
impossible and can be done. All that you need to make deep
breathing a habit is a persistence effort.
Now I shall describe two very
effective and easy methods for learning deep breathing . By
using these simple exercises of breathing and awareness, which can be done
anywhere, you can instantly learn how to breath deeply without a conscious effort. Just from the
very first attempt, you'll start breathing deeply)
Next
:
How to adopt
a habit of Deep breathing : Two
extremely easy method to automate the deep breathing unconsciously.
