Before Starting, Take A Deep Breath

The breath is often the first thing we are asked to draw our attention to when we begin a guided meditation. We are also taught to bring our attention back to our breath when our minds start to wander during meditation. It seems as thought breath and meditation go hand in hand.  But what is this connection?

In our physical bodies, breathing deeply slows our heart rate and relaxes our muscles to create a sense of comfort. As for our minds, according to  Rashmi Rathi, author, professor, and yoga teacher, "The faster your breathe, faster is the speed of your thoughts could be vice versa also. The slower you breathe, slower is the speed of the thoughts. And because of this paying attention to your breathing and slowing it down means your thoughts too will slow down giving you a feeling of calm."

This is reiterated by Marion Mug McConnell, when she too discovered this mind and breath connection.

"During one meditation Hari asked me to notice my breath—to watch how it would slow down significantly as my mind slowed down, and visa versa. If I wanted to slow down the mind, then I should slow down the breath. As a novice I found this to be a most amazing tidbit of information. When I returned to my meditation I was much more aware of the natural pace of my breathing. "

Mugs, as I warmly refer to her, goes on to describe in her book Letters From the Yoga Masters (2016) pg 60,  "It is a well-known fact to yogis that if we want to control the mind, we must control the breath.  When we control the breath, we control the mind and when the mind slows down to stillness, the prana can move into the central nadi (the seventy-two thousand astral nerves), and the journey of Self-realization begins."

When we seek out meditation, yoga, EFT or other calming practices, we are seeking a time of relaxation but we are finding a deeper connection with ourselves. This slowing down or drawing of our thoughts inward, creates a space for self reflection, self realization. We open our thought to inspiration. Often after a deep breath, one will comment to him or herself "I am so stressed" or "that feels good" as the breath brings you closer to your emotions, state of being and ultimately your purpose. 

Thank you for reading and exercising your breath!

Love, Kerri