Breathing is undoubtedly connected to various systems in the body. If you want to stay healthy, it's better to practice deep breathing.

Some people hardly pay attention to their breath, thinking that just breathing through the day is enough. However, proper breathing can help heal ailments and boost vitality, which is emphasized in both modern medicine and Eastern practices.

Notice how, when we are by the sea or in the mountains, we feel refreshed, as if our bodies are recharging. In contrast, walking along a crowded sidewalk can leave us feeling tired and drained.

Breathing is extremely important; it is essential to breathe deeply and fully.

Both Eastern practices and modern medicine provide evidence that deep, long breaths are more beneficial for the body and mind than normal breathing. Think about when we are very stressed: our hearts race, and we feel pressured. But if we take slow, deep breaths, it can improve our body's metabolic processes.

 

Breathe Correctly

Breathing is the process of taking oxygen from the external atmosphere into the body. After metabolism, carbon dioxide is produced and expelled. Gas transport occurs through the circulatory system, with gas exchange between blood and tissues happening at the cellular level, known as internal respiration. The exchange of gases between blood and external air, which occurs in the lungs, is called external respiration.

The respiratory system is divided into two parts: 1. The airways, which allow air to enter and exit, and 2. The respiratory organs, including the lungs, where gas exchange occurs.

The respiratory pathway operates semi-automatically, functioning rhythmically on its own. The automatic control mechanism sends signals through the phrenic nerve to the respiratory muscles, including the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. The phrenic nerve branches from the upper cervical spine between the 3rd and 4th, and 4th and 5th vertebrae to the diaphragm. Eleven pairs of nerves branch from the joints between the thoracic vertebrae 1-11 to the intercostal muscles, with separate nerves responsible for inhalation and exhalation.

However, emotional states affect the respiratory system. Shock, fear, and excitement can cause faster breathing, while emotional expressions like laughing or crying require appropriate breathing mechanisms. The upper brain reduces control, allowing the central respiratory center in the midbrain to take over. Similarly, various emotional states can influence breathing.

By adjusting our breathing correctly, we can control our emotional states. For instance, taking a long sigh can help release emotional tension, while deep inhalations can invigorate us and fill our lungs.

Nonetheless, various breathing patterns undoubtedly influence mental states, such as the speed and depth of breaths, the ratio of lung to abdominal movement, breath-holding, and the ratio of inhalation to exhalation.

Today, scientists are also focusing on how breathing patterns affect the nervous system, studying the impact of breath on bodily mechanisms, both physical and mental.

 

Deep Breathing Helps Heal

Every cell in our body requires oxygen to repair worn-out parts. However, some people's bodies have very little oxygen left due to the accumulation of waste and harmful gases.

It is crucial for us to expel as much waste from our bodies as possible by inhaling pure air. Normally, oxygen constitutes only 21 percent of the air, and even with regular breathing, we may not fully utilize the oxygen available in our bodies.

Oxygen therapy experts recommend practicing slow, deep breathing by filling the lungs completely, then holding the breath for as long as possible. Clean air will nourish various parts of the body, purifying our blood, and then we exhale through the mouth to expel waste.

While breathing calmly, our minds will also settle with the breath, reducing free radicals, which in turn decreases cancer-causing agents. Free radicals can lead to dull skin and premature aging.

Moreover, several research studies confirm that this type of breathing reduces free radicals, similar to yoga or meditation breathing, as the mind calms and stress hormones decrease.

 

Yoga Breathing

Eastern practices prioritize correct breathing techniques, whether in Qigong, yoga, Tai Chi, Aikido, meditation, or certain body therapies that require long, deep breaths.

For instance, pranayama, which stretches the breath to increase energy, is a form of breath control. The body's mechanisms connect with the autonomic nervous system to regulate mental functioning and prepare for meditation. Yoga breathing is not about increasing oxygen in the body but reducing air intake to lead practitioners to inner calm.

During pranayama practice, the amount of air entering the body is reduced, increasing carbon dioxide concentration. This practice helps the body tolerate higher levels of carbon dioxide, leading practitioners to breathe less and slower, calming the mind.

Kavi Kongphakdeephong is a pioneering yoga instructor and director of the Yoga Academic Institute at the People's Doctor Foundation. He once described yoga breathing as a bridge connecting body and mind, noting that breathing is governed by the autonomic nervous system. It's evident that when we are angry or happy, our breathing changes, and yoga places greater importance on breath than on asana practice.

Breath training is a way to control the original automatic system. If one can master breath control, they can also learn to control their mind. Although yoga breathing techniques have various components, they share a common goal of mental development. Practitioners are encouraged to practice yoga breathing no more than four times a day: at sunrise, noon, sunset, and midnight.

Did you know that in the 21st century, as lifestyles have changed and medical advancements have increased, humans face more mental challenges due to constant stress?

Many are aware that stress causes imbalances in the body, which can arise from various factors, both external and internal. Stress stimulates the hypothalamus, affecting the sympathetic nervous system and triggering the adrenal glands, leading to internal changes such as increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and higher blood sugar levels.

If the body cannot manage stress, various systems will not function normally, leading to conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, insomnia, and excessive acidity.

Practicing yoga is a holistic approach to caring for the body, including the nervous system, hormonal system, muscular system, etc., as well as mental well-being. Deep breathing helps calm the mind and reduces stress hormone release.

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Note: Some information is sourced from the Health Yoga Promotion Project of the People's Doctor Foundation.

SOURCE: www.bangkokbiznews.com