Why learning how to breathe is the first lesson monks learn
May 19, 2021Watch the webclass, "4-Part Roadmap to Encourage Adulting Actions."
Download, "The Quick Start Guide to STEAR Mapping"
RESOURCES
- BREATH by James Nestor
- THINK LIKE A MONK by Jay Shetty
On his first day of monk school, Jay Shetty saw a 10-year-old teaching a group of five year olds how to breathe. He asked him why he was teaching that lesson to those kids.
The 10-year-old replied, "When we're stressed, what changes? Our breath. When we're angry, what changes? Our breath. When we're calm, what changes? Our breath. By learning how to master our breath, we can navigate any situation in life."
Modern science backs up the fundamental power of breath. In his book, Conscious Breathing, Anders Olson says, "By taking control of our breathing, we can influence our thoughts and feelings, our internal organs such as the heart in the brain, as well as our bodily functions such as digestion and immune system."
His colleague James Nester, author of Breath, believes that breathing is a lost art. He says and I quote, "No matter what you eat, how much you exercise, how skinny or young or strong you are. None of it matters, unless you're breathing properly."
The two of them did an experiment, James, and Olson. They had their nostrils surgically closed for 10 days. Their major takeaway that, that they already knew is that, "Mouth breathing is terrible. The nagging fatigue, irritation, testiness and anxiety, the horrid breath and constant bathroom breaks. the spaciness, stares and stomachache. It was awful."
Ten days, was enough.
They argue, again, that, "Providing your body with oxygen is always a top priority. Since we survive a few moments without oxygen. We need a constant inflow of gas. An impaired breathing pattern increases our basic stress because it decreases oxygenation and places a greater strain on available resources to sustain optimum oxygen levels." Anderson is convinced that breathing is fundamental.
So here's how they recommend we breathe.
- In through our nose, gently and calm.
- Down into the belly gently expanding our lower ribs.
- And then back out through our nose, exhaling slightly longer than we inhale.
They argue that compared to breathing out through our mouth, exhaling through our noses, increases the pressure in our lungs, therefore providing better oxygenation.
Notice how similar to the ocean waves our breathing this way, sounds.
Three rules. Breathe through the nose. Expand the belly, and exhale through the nose again.
How often should we breathe this way? Every day, all day.
I did an experiment this morning, where I did a HiiT workout (high intensity interval training). Usually, I'm breathing through my mouth throughout the entire workout.
This time I concentrated on breathing in and out, exhaling through my nose. I don't know if it was...we'll see if it continues this way, but the workout was easier. I was not as stressed by the end of the workout.
Give it a try. I think it's going to work.
Bye for now.
