Breathing in Peace and Wellbeing through Coherent steady breathing patterns

Breathing is important for our well-being. This really goes without saying. It is in fact one of the main regulators of our energy-level. If we were to stop breathing and hold our breath, we would find very quickly that our wakefulness decreases and we feel a strong urge by our body to inhale a breath of fresh air.

What is interesting is that the breath can be consciously-controlled and some of the most blissful meditative states are able to be experienced by consciously regulating our breathing pattern and feeling the pressure and stress loosen up in our chest area.

Sometimes it's easy to fall into the habit of breathing short, shallow breaths and breathing more of these shorter breaths per minute. However, this is a more stressful way of breathing than longer, deeper breaths. They say that about 4-6 breaths per minute is the optimal resting breathing pattern.

Just as smiling can send certain signals to the brain to feel happier, breathing differently can also reduce stress and produce the relaxation response as well as promoting a state of flow.

It's sending not only more oxygen into the bloodstream but also working energetically with the nervous system.

In a sense, by allowing yourself to breathe at a smooth, even pace, you are working from a foundation of tranquility and expansive confidence rather than a state of fear, anxiety, or desperation. It's known that smooth breathing patterns along with consistent meditative practices produce improvements in Heart Rate Variability which is the measure of how adaptive your heart rate is.

Through signalling mediated by the Vagus Nerve, the lungs actually connect with the heart and brain through this very large, powerful nerve fiber and a lot of transmission of power flows through the Nervous System along this Nerve.

It is now being well-documented that the heart and lungs actually are very critical in determining the activity of the mind. it's like the systems that bring in the energy so the brain and heart can do their processing.

It can be especially nice to go into a nice place in Nature such as a wooded area where one can absorb the clean purified air of the trees. Of course, it's also nice to get away from all the stresses humans create for themselves in the cities.

The action of breathing is actually a major route of elimination of toxic metabolic waste-products like Carbonic Acid. This is what's converted into Carbon-Dioxide and exhaled. Plus, the physical movement of the lungs plays a part in movement of the digestive tract and the excretion of waste that happens in the bowels.

Breath is closely-linked to the Hydration in the body as well so maintaining hydration levels is important for the flexibility of the lungs.

Also, the hydration and movement of fluids in the body is mediated by the movement of the Diaphragm which can be pictured like a plunger which "primes" the water through the pipe.

By knowing these facts, we can realize that in order to get the full benefit of hydration and the food we eat, we need to fully breathe and balance out our nervous system.

Since breathing is generally a subconscious process, by regularly practicing different breathing patterns, you can start changing the way you breathe when you're not thinking about it.