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CONSCIOUS BREATHING
By Martin Kelman
Sometimes the obvious is overlooked and underestimated. This is so with the use of breath. Not only is it imperative to meditation, but also can be used in the form of conscious breathing in our daily lives.
When we were babies we used breath properly. All our little tummies moved up and down. We breathed deeply and from the diaphragm. As we got older and busier, our breath became shorter and was drawn to the chest and back. We have altered our natural breathing patterns that were so natural as infants.
Conscious breathing is developed in steps. Take a moment anytime that is convenient during your day and just focus on your breathing. This is easy, but you will be surprised by the calm it will bring. You will notice that the noise around you decreases the more you focus on your breath. You will also notice how short your breathing pattern is. This first step is easily done!
The next step is to lengthen your breathing pattern, so that the air will travel down through the nose, all the way down to the tummy and back up. This may be hard to do at first, as we are not used to this type of breathing, and you will need to focus and make sure it goes to your stomach. You can look down to see, if indeed, your stomach is moving.
By breathing this way, you are bringing more oxygen to the body. Sitting with a straight back and feet flat on the floor, will help the breath and energy created, to unblock energy pathways between the spine and neck, and help connect the energy between charkas. However, any position is acceptable and will have the desired effect. Obviously it is a healthy experience, a stress relieving experience, creates a simple appreciation of being alive, and can be done anywhere for any length of time.
The next step is to feel the breath as it enters your nose, paying particular attention to the nasal passages just inside the nose. Feel the breath as it goes down your throat and into your stomach and let all the stress, fears, and worries be exhaled. That’s it! Of course, this can be developed by the use of breathing in various colors, vibrations, sounds, etc and don’t forget to use your own unique style. You are unique and loved for that uniqueness that you bring into this world.
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