"Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts." -Thich Nhat Hanh
What an amazing miracle, the human body. The inherent wisdom and energy of your body-mind is constantly at work, whether you notice it or not. Of all of the billions of functions that are so perfectly coordinated and harmonized within our bodies at any given moment, our breath is perhaps the single greatest tool that we have to connect directly with this energy. It is the one autonomic, or automatic, function that is both unconsciously happening all the time, and that we can consciously control.
At Ananda Wellness Centers, we utilize Network Care and SRI, or Somato-Respiratory Integration exercises during your visits, and we use breath to connect more deeply with ourselves and with particular parts of ourselves. Some of you have asked how it is that we can breathe into different parts of our body. "If our lungs are contained in our chest cavity, why can I can feel my breath near my tailbone, or in my neck?"
Let's take a closer look at the physiology of breathing. Although we think of breathing only taking place within the lungs, the process of breathing takes place throughout the entire body. You breathe in air, oxygen, and other gases through your nose, down your trachea, and into your lungs. In your lungs the air branches off into the limbs similar to an upside-down tree, eventually making it to the little leaves, or alveoli at the far reaches of the surface of the lungs. Here, the clusters of breath-filled sacs are so thin that gases and molecules of oxygen can directly pass through into the small blood vessels and enter your arteries. It is then taken to your heart, your muscles, your internal organs, and your brain. There is an incredible amount of integration happening with each breath: the stretching out of the diaphragm muscle moves your internal organs toward your pelvis; sensations increase as oxygen moves throughout your circulatory system; muscles, tendons, and ligaments throughout your torso, chest, and back become both stretched and contracted.
In short, with SRI you consciously control your breath and direct it to certain areas of your body, becoming more acutely aware of all of these sensations. With Network adjustments, your body-mind unconsciously and spontaneously moves your breath to the place in your body where it can be used most efficiently to reduce spinal and life tension. And the strategies you learn throughout your care program can be used by you, anytime, anywhere.
As spring brings air that is fresher, sweeter, more floral, and more scent-ual, take the time to slow down your breath each day. Become aware of your inhalation, your exhalation, and the precious fuel you are giving all of the cells of your body. Once you begin experiencing the gift of conscious breathing, the rewards such as less stress, a calmer demeanor, and more presence in your life become every day occurrences.
