LittleMissMuffet
Well-known member
I've been finding more information on breathing and how it is connected to a person's state of mind. That irregularities in breath correspond to irregularities of the mind; and that through practising 'proper breathing' the mind can actually be manipulated to being calm!!!!! 8O ... :idea:... 
I got this info from 'swamiJ.com' (under the 'breathing' section) and I've copied-out bits from the site here...
.......................................
" Breath is the bridge between the body and the mind. Regulate breath, and the body and mind will follow.
The finest bridge between body and mind: Breath is a bridge between the body and the mind. When trying to meditate it is extremely common to have tension in the muscles and noisy thoughts in the mind. The nervous system is the arbiter between the tense body and the noisy mind. One of the best ways to regulate that nervous system, and in turn the body and mind, is through the breath. This has been known by the Yogis for thousands of years, and has also come to be widely known in recent years by the modern medical and psychological community.
It begins and ends with awareness: Breath awareness is so important that, in a sense, you can say that the whole science of breath begins with awareness, and ends with awareness. Everything else, in the middle, is preparation for awareness.
Building on the foundation of a genuine interest in exploring breath from within, we can then begin to work with the irregularities of the breath.
Irregularities caused by the mind: The body, breath, and mind are linked. If there are jerks, pauses, shallowness, and noisiness in the breath, they are being caused by the mind. The breath and body simply cannot operate without receiving instructions from the mind. So, if the breath is irregular, it is because of the irregularities in the mind.
To be aware of and eliminate
jerks, pauses, shallowness, and noise
is a most important practice.
Removing irregularities: However, you can consciously regulate the breath, so as to remove these irregularities. The major irregularities of breath are:
• Jerks
• Pauses
• Shallowness
• Noisiness
Working with breath helps the mind: The beautiful thing is that, if you eliminate the irregularities from the physical breath, it has an extremely beneficial effect on the mind as well. When the breath becomes smooth, continuous (without pauses), slow, and quiet, the mind comes along, and also becomes calm and peaceful. The body also comes along, and relaxes much more easily. "
...........................................
Diaphragmatic Breathing is really important for creating calm in the mind and getting out of the 'flight or fight' system.
-Read important description on correct Diaphragmatic Breathing.
-For now, here are some Breathing Practices... that mostly concentrate on breathing with the Diaphragm (there are many more at the website):-
....................
"Crocodile posture:
Automatically breathe from the diaphragm: The crocodile is a particular posture in which you are lying on your front side, with your abdomen and lower chest on the floor, and your legs stretched out behind you. Your forehead rests on folded arms, with your upper chest lifted off the floor. In this posture, you will automatically breath from your diaphragm. Your chest will automatically be still.
By practicing this posture, two things happen. First, you get the relaxation benefits in the moment, from breathing diaphragmatically. Second, you can internally pay attention to the feel of the breath, and notice the stillness of the chest, the immobility in the lower abdomen, and the strong way in which the diaphragm is operating. By observing this internally, it is then easier to take this awareness and method with you when you leave the posture.
Sandbag:
Awareness and strength: When you are first learning breathing practices, including breath awareness and diaphragmatic, the use of a sandbag can both increase awareness and strengthen the diaphragm muscle.
The sandbag is about 10-14 pounds, and is placed on your upper abdomen and lower chest area while you lie in the corpse posture. The weight will significantly increase your awareness of breathing in this area, and will also force the muscles to push against the weight of the sandbag, making them stronger.
Sandbags are commercially available, or you can make your own. One alternative is to purchase a 10 pound (or 5kg) bag of rice. Wrap it in a cloth or a towel, or put it in a pillow case, and place that on your upper abdomen / lower chest. After you have practiced with it long enough, you can eat the rice!
Alternate Nostril breathing:
When the energy is not balanced, one of the most visible ways in which this is seen, is in the nostrils. Most of the time, one or the other nostril is more dominant, allowing air to move more freely. This is quite a natural process. However, when they are flowing evenly, the mind really likes to be quiet and meditate.
Alternate Nostril breathing is a method where you consciously work with that energy by regulating the physical breath in one or the other nostril. This in turn effects the energy and mind. It brings balance, and allows the energy to flow in the center, rather than on the left or right side.
To control the flow of breath, one usually begins by using their fingers to block off one nostril so as to allow the other to flow. Then, the fingers are moved so as to block the opposite nostril, and allow the previously blocked nostril to flow. This cycle will be repeated several times.
One method of alternate nostril breathing that is easy to understand (when written down like this) is to exhale and inhale from one nostril five times. Then, do five times with the other nostril. That is called a "round." Doing three rounds is a complete practice. There are a variety of different patterns of doing alternate nostril breathing (such as the five on each side method).
This physical act really does have an effect on the autonomic nervous system, and allows one to become "centered" in such a way that both nostrils are flowing smoothly. In this state, the mind is also quite relaxed.
Gradually, one learns to do this with attention, not the fingers, allowing attention to move from one to the other nostril. One sits quietly, with eyes closed, and simply places attention on the nostril.
I got this info from 'swamiJ.com' (under the 'breathing' section) and I've copied-out bits from the site here...
.......................................
" Breath is the bridge between the body and the mind. Regulate breath, and the body and mind will follow.
The finest bridge between body and mind: Breath is a bridge between the body and the mind. When trying to meditate it is extremely common to have tension in the muscles and noisy thoughts in the mind. The nervous system is the arbiter between the tense body and the noisy mind. One of the best ways to regulate that nervous system, and in turn the body and mind, is through the breath. This has been known by the Yogis for thousands of years, and has also come to be widely known in recent years by the modern medical and psychological community.
It begins and ends with awareness: Breath awareness is so important that, in a sense, you can say that the whole science of breath begins with awareness, and ends with awareness. Everything else, in the middle, is preparation for awareness.
Building on the foundation of a genuine interest in exploring breath from within, we can then begin to work with the irregularities of the breath.
Irregularities caused by the mind: The body, breath, and mind are linked. If there are jerks, pauses, shallowness, and noisiness in the breath, they are being caused by the mind. The breath and body simply cannot operate without receiving instructions from the mind. So, if the breath is irregular, it is because of the irregularities in the mind.
To be aware of and eliminate
jerks, pauses, shallowness, and noise
is a most important practice.
Removing irregularities: However, you can consciously regulate the breath, so as to remove these irregularities. The major irregularities of breath are:
• Jerks
• Pauses
• Shallowness
• Noisiness
Working with breath helps the mind: The beautiful thing is that, if you eliminate the irregularities from the physical breath, it has an extremely beneficial effect on the mind as well. When the breath becomes smooth, continuous (without pauses), slow, and quiet, the mind comes along, and also becomes calm and peaceful. The body also comes along, and relaxes much more easily. "
...........................................
Diaphragmatic Breathing is really important for creating calm in the mind and getting out of the 'flight or fight' system.
-Read important description on correct Diaphragmatic Breathing.
-For now, here are some Breathing Practices... that mostly concentrate on breathing with the Diaphragm (there are many more at the website):-
....................
"Crocodile posture:
Automatically breathe from the diaphragm: The crocodile is a particular posture in which you are lying on your front side, with your abdomen and lower chest on the floor, and your legs stretched out behind you. Your forehead rests on folded arms, with your upper chest lifted off the floor. In this posture, you will automatically breath from your diaphragm. Your chest will automatically be still.
By practicing this posture, two things happen. First, you get the relaxation benefits in the moment, from breathing diaphragmatically. Second, you can internally pay attention to the feel of the breath, and notice the stillness of the chest, the immobility in the lower abdomen, and the strong way in which the diaphragm is operating. By observing this internally, it is then easier to take this awareness and method with you when you leave the posture.
Sandbag:
Awareness and strength: When you are first learning breathing practices, including breath awareness and diaphragmatic, the use of a sandbag can both increase awareness and strengthen the diaphragm muscle.
The sandbag is about 10-14 pounds, and is placed on your upper abdomen and lower chest area while you lie in the corpse posture. The weight will significantly increase your awareness of breathing in this area, and will also force the muscles to push against the weight of the sandbag, making them stronger.
Sandbags are commercially available, or you can make your own. One alternative is to purchase a 10 pound (or 5kg) bag of rice. Wrap it in a cloth or a towel, or put it in a pillow case, and place that on your upper abdomen / lower chest. After you have practiced with it long enough, you can eat the rice!
Alternate Nostril breathing:
When the energy is not balanced, one of the most visible ways in which this is seen, is in the nostrils. Most of the time, one or the other nostril is more dominant, allowing air to move more freely. This is quite a natural process. However, when they are flowing evenly, the mind really likes to be quiet and meditate.
Alternate Nostril breathing is a method where you consciously work with that energy by regulating the physical breath in one or the other nostril. This in turn effects the energy and mind. It brings balance, and allows the energy to flow in the center, rather than on the left or right side.
To control the flow of breath, one usually begins by using their fingers to block off one nostril so as to allow the other to flow. Then, the fingers are moved so as to block the opposite nostril, and allow the previously blocked nostril to flow. This cycle will be repeated several times.
One method of alternate nostril breathing that is easy to understand (when written down like this) is to exhale and inhale from one nostril five times. Then, do five times with the other nostril. That is called a "round." Doing three rounds is a complete practice. There are a variety of different patterns of doing alternate nostril breathing (such as the five on each side method).
This physical act really does have an effect on the autonomic nervous system, and allows one to become "centered" in such a way that both nostrils are flowing smoothly. In this state, the mind is also quite relaxed.
Gradually, one learns to do this with attention, not the fingers, allowing attention to move from one to the other nostril. One sits quietly, with eyes closed, and simply places attention on the nostril.
