Samadi Yoga

“Breathing isn’t only essential to keep us alive, it also impacts our emotions, attention, and how our brains process the world around us.” Neuroscience News, Nov. 2022

Why is breath so important? The most obvious reason is it keeps us alive.  It is our life force, our prana, our chi and without it, we would not be in this world of “form”. The next important aspect of breath is the direct link to the nervous system and the proper functioning of the brain. The brain, being the master organ/master gland, directs the beautiful symphony of the bodily systems that work together in harmony. 

Recent studies have focused on the effect of our breathing and the influence on the “brain’s expectations”. We are more sensitive to the outside world when we are breathing in, whereas the brain tunes out more when we breathe out. The rhythm and the attention on the breath impacts our emotions, our attention and how we process the outside world. When we breathe deep, the body releases endorphins which is the “feel good” hormone in the body. When we limit the breath or have restricted breathing patterns due to stress and high emotion, we tend to have lower energy, lower mental clarity, and tend to be more irritable. When short shallow breathing is in play, the body’s nervous system switches to a “fight or flight” mode. In this survival mode, the body becomes tense, the breath is short and the chest gets restricted in addition to the hip flexors getting tense to get the body out of danger and prepare to run. Keeping in mind that the body responds the same between imminent danger and emotional-mental danger. The body reacts the same in both occasions. 

The foundation of all yoga and meditation practices is with the breath. Whether we are in a sitting meditation or moving our body through a Hatha Yoga class, the attention is constantly on the breath. This breath awareness not only helps us stay present, but also helps to keep our attention sharp and focused. The attention is on events happening in "real time"which in meditation is to follow the breath and in yoga to feel the breath while simultaneously moving into a pose. Other studies on the brains of meditators have shown that people who practice meditation tend to bounce back easier and quicker from stressful situations. 

Consider the bigger overall perspective here. Researchers have found that “difficulty breathing is associated with a very large increase in the risk for mood disorders such as anxiety and depression". They know that respiration, respiratory illness, and psychiatric disorders are closely linked. The research reveals that understanding how breathing shapes the brain, the effects on mood, thoughts and behaviors; this discovery is an important part to help prevent, treat, and heal mental illness. 

If you haven’t already, begin a meditation and yoga practice and embrace the breath work that is integrated with each session. Your body and your mind will love you for it!