Good morning peeps, meditation done.

Quote for the Day:

“Life is breath and breath is life.”

Swami Rama

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“Life is breath and breath is life.”

Swami Rama

In 1970 Swami Rama who was raised in the Himalayan caves and had trained in the closely guarded secrets of yoga since the age of three, walked into an American Research laboratory and under the most rigorous experimental conditions he simulated death by virtually stopping his brainwaves and heartbeat and yet remained fully conscious of events occurring around him in the laboratory. His breathing abilities stunned the western scientific establishment and they began to take notice of the inner science of the Indian yogis, which far exceeded the knowledge of the western physicians and physiologists.

Svarodaya in Sanskrit means the science of breath. Breathing is the one physical function, which is both involuntary and voluntary. The Indian inner explorers understood this and realized that breath is the key to control over the autonomic nervous system and by learning to manipulate their breathing patterns yogis gained control over their brain function to an extent scarcely anyone in the west would have believed possible until Swami Rama had walked into the laboratory.

Swami Rama insisted that the human body is actually organised around a field of energy called Sukshima Shariva (Sanskrit for subtle body), which most western scientists still dispute, but he manipulated this energy field to raise tumerous growths on his arms and make them disappear in a matter of hours.

Imagine how the treatment of cancer might change if medical research devoted even a fraction of their funds to the exploration of living energy?

In 1931 Dr. Otto Warburg won the Nobel Prize in physiology of medicine for proving that viruses cannot proliferate or exist in an environment with high levels of oxygen. Viruses are anaerobic which means that they occur and thrive in the absence of oxygen. Warburg stated,

“Deprive a cell 35% of its oxygen for 48 hours and it may become cancerous”

He went on to say that the prime cause of cancer is insufficient oxygen at the cellular level and that cancer cells cannot survive in a high oxygen environment.

Research shows that cancerous tumors shrink when put into contact with oxygen. The studies conducted by other researchers and doctors have proven that not only cancer cells but almost all toxins; bacteria, viruses, pathogens and disease microorganisms are oxidized and killed in high oxygen environments.

Smog and air filled pollution inhibit our ability to take in sufficient amounts of oxygen. We breathe in slowly and shallowly when taking in polluted air full of carbon monoxide and other toxins and as a result our bodies become accustomed to living with less oxygen. Our atmosphere should ideally contain 20% oxygen but in some especially polluted areas it is as low as 10%.

We are also cutting down trees locally and in the rain forests at alarming rates. Trees breathe in the carbon dioxide we breathe out and they provide oxygen in return. Fewer tress means less oxygen for us to breathe.

Breathing is the process that moves air in and out of the lungs and oxygen is required to release energy in the body via the respiration system.

Breathing is one of the processes that deliver oxygen to where it is needed in the body and removes carbon dioxide the other is the circulatory system, which transports blood around the body.

We only have a certain amount of breaths in our lives, the same way a car only has a certain amount of miles in it’s lifetime expectancy. Scientists’ estimate that on average a human takes about 600 million breaths during their lifetime. Therefore it makes sense to breathe efficiently to enable us to get the most amount of oxygen out of every breath we take to make sure we get the most out of our lives in both quality and length.

The Yogic Breath

The three types of inhalation (Chest, diaphragm and clavicle) can be coordinated in one smooth exercise in which a maximum deep breath is taken.

This is the complete breath used in yoga, which iniates in the diaphragm, resulting in the slight expansion of the lower ribs and protrusion of the upper abdomen, oxygenating the lower lung fields and then the middle portions of the lungs expand with outward chest movement in the thoracic phase and finally the slight raising of the clavicles expands the upper most tips of the lungs.

After the lungs are filled to their maximum capacity with air, how are they emptied?

The key is relaxation as experienced in sighing or letting out a deep breath in a completely relaxed passive motion, without muscle contraction to push the air out. This allows the lungs to act as if they as elastic and shrink back to their original size much like a balloon once the end is untied.

The quality of this breathing process is of great importance in maintaining health and energy production.

Anxiety is associated with chest breathing and many people attempt to suppress their fears by holding in their stomachs and stilling the diaphragm.

People also hold their stomachs in for body image, whilst diaphragmatic breathing pushes the abdomen forward and a protruding stomach is not fashionable in our society. Hence we are told to push our chest out and hold our stomach in, keeping it tense which leads to an increased reliance on chest breathing.

Through practice and awareness we need to change the habits of a lifetime and learn to breath in a more efficient manner to boost our energy production, reduce stress and fatigue levels and maintain good health.

Breathing Exercises

Controlling the tempo of our breathing helps control the state of the mind in times of stress, where the body’s natural “fight or flight” response, quickens up our rate of breathing and causes panic and stress in both our body and mind.

When we are scared or in a state of stress our shoulders tighten, causing even more tension and our heart beat races, our breathing becomes short and sharp, increasing the sense of panic.

If we can maintain an even, steady breathe, this slows the heart rate, relaxes the body and supplies the brain with enough oxygen to make wise decisions.

I like to begin my day with 10 minutes of breathing exercises, sometimes I get up out of bed and sit cross legged with my back against the wall, other times I lie on the floor with the soles of the feet together, or if I am particularly tired, I will simply stay in bed, under the warmth and comfort of my duvet, lie on my back and place the soles of my feet together.

I then breathe in for 4 counts and out for 4 counts for 10 minutes focusing on nothing, but my breath.

I find if I start my day like this, I begin in a relaxed state of mind, which increases the prospect of a positive day.

The alternative is to jump up out of bed, rush in the shower, grab a coffee, wolf it down, quickly brush your teeth, run for the bus, tube or train, jump in your car and rush to work, glancing nervously at your watch, worrying am I going to get there in time?

Does this sound familiar to you? The slightest mishap is ready to send you over the edge.

Do you think you have really set yourself up properly to give yourself the best chance of having a perfect day?

Have a wonderful Wednesday peeps.

“Life is breath and breath is life.”

May all your Dreams come True.

Breathe, Believe and Achieve

Be Happy, Healthy and Wise

Keep on Winning, Smiling and Living the Dream

Namaste

Steve Agyei

Keep on Winning Smiling and Living the Dream

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