Breathing - A Full Wave of Breathe
75When was the last time you thought about breathing? Interesting most of don't, and most of us never realize that approximately 18 times per minute, 1,080 times an hour and 25,920 times a day – you take a breathe. Breathe is life, it is the most primal function. It is totally automatic yet it is within our control. Being that, full wave breathing is a force, it is a tool that we have in our possession every minute of the day and it can positively impact our health, our stress level and our emotional state.
Think about it, if there is too much inhaling with not a equal amount of exhaling not only will you feel like exploding you just might have the recipe for an anxiety attack. And in reverse if there is too much exhaling and not enough inhaling you just might burn yourself out.
You can survive around 18 days without food, 3 days without water, but only 3 minutes without breath for that is the time it takes for your brain to be starved of oxygen.
Full wave breathing is all about charging the energy within.
Its all about balance.
Just like riding a wave, you have to balance yourself while you are in the middle of it. You have to receive the energy and then extend it. Feeling more energized and less stressed is the natural result of good deep full wave breathing.
Our Spirit is Air In Motion
In Hebrew the word Ruach is the force that causes this life force to endure in this world, in the Old Testament it means spirit. In Sanskirt the word Prana , is an invisible force that is the connecting link between the body and the mind. In Greek the word Pneuma is the word for "breathe" and in its religious context "spirit". It is the wind, it is air in motion.
Therefore if you can calm the mind by skillful full wave breathing, you are simultaneously and automatically taming and training the mind. When you are stressed out, just think how relaxing it is to be alone for just a few minutes just to breathe, in and out, deep and quiet.
Breathe
B Breathing Transforms
R Releases Tension
E Embraces the Present
A Appreciates the Gift
T Time to Be Present
H Hurries Not
E Enjoys Each Moment
Measure Your Breathing
- Simple Ways of Evaluating How Well You Breathe
Optimal Breathing
Conscious Breathing
When we take a breathe, new air enters the lungs and old air leaves. In the lungs our blood cells get oxygen from the new air and releases carbon dioxide in the old air. You are breathing at your best when the exchange of gasses is occurring to its fullest extent. Slow, steady and deep breathes are the best. It is how infants breathe and how we breathe when we sleep and it involves the diaphragm which is one of our major muscle. The diaphragm sits below the lungs and above the abdomen. Your diaphragm is working if your belly is moving in and out as you inhale and exhale. When it is your shoulders and upper chest moving your breathing tends to be irregular and fast. And that can just add to the stress we feel. Just think about the calm effect that comes over your whole being when you are taking full and steady breathes. In a calm and easy state, one can tackle anything.
Practicing a Full Wave Breathe
- Find an image for the breathe in your stomach. Your image can be anything like a flower, fire, light anything positive that you will think about every time you do this exercise, so make it something that makes you feel good. This is going to help you visualize your breathe coming way deep in your lungs. And it will help you from taking shallow breaths.
- Find a comfortable position. If you are stand up or sitting down make sure that your spine is straight. Keep your shoulders relaxed and your head straight up, but just loose enough to be able to nod ;)
- Concentrate on your belly. It helps if you use your belly button as the central point, place one hand on top of the other hand and place it on your belly. Now breathe in slowly and feel your stomach expand; breathe out and push the stomach gently back in.
- Repeat this a few times every day and in no time you will raise the level of your oxygen intake and before you know it you will be reaping the benefits of increased energy, better health, and a stronger sense of well being.
“Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts.”
~Thich Nhat Hanh~
Breathe Waves of Cleaner Air
Surround Your Home and Office with Plants
All plants provide some benefit to air quality, NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) research
has showed that tropical plants (grown as houseplants in cooler climates)
are particularly effective at processing gases and chemicals. They found that certain tropical plants used as house/office plants were rather effective in removing formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethane from the air and replacing it with oxygen that was breathable.
Top Ten Reasons to Have a Plant in your Home/Office
- plants reduce carbon dioxide levels
- plants keep air temperature down making the air cooler
- plants boost moisture levels making the air more comfortable
- plants enhance creativity
- plants cut down dust levels
- plants absorb noise and cut down distractions bringing a sense of tranquility
- plants are attractive and soothing which reduces stress
- plants have a healing effect
- It’s better to get rid of air pollution naturally with plants than it would be to use chemical air fresheners, etc.
- plants are pretty and look good. . and you know when you look good your feel good ;)
Great Houseplants
Bamboo
Dracaena
English Ivy
Ferns
Gerbera Daisies
Peace Lily
Philodendrons
Spider Plant
Did You Know
- Nitrogen gas is found in the lungs, since most of the air you breathe consists of this element
- Nitrogen (N2) a colorless, tastless and non toxic . It makes up the majority of the air that we breathe and is contained in the protein of all life on earth. Oxygen (O2) is the next most common component of air . Together N2 and O2 make up approximately 99% of the air we breathe.
- Nitrogen is traditionally what we fill tires with.
Just Do It
Remember you will be breathing for as long as you are alive. It just makes good sense to do it in the best way to support rather than undermine your health, your emotional well being and most important your spirit. You have the tool, use it, embrace it and you will see your energy surge. So breathe in and come along and ride the wave;)
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I've been meaning to come back to you :) and read another one of your hubs! You better write some more, because I've enjoyed all of them so far! You do have a talent, Shari (if I could call you that) as your words flow very nicely which in many cases is rare when reading on-line writing. Meditation is certainly a wonderful practice and I sadly I haven't been meditating myself as of late. Thank you for sharing this with me. I hope to read more of your hubs, as I know you have more that you want to share!
Best wishes,
Dohn
Hi Shari,
You do put together great hubs! Interesting, informative, helpful and generous. Thank you.
I've have been breathing for many years now. I remember trying it under water as a lad and soon discovered the folly of that nonsense. I eventually learned to breathe like Bill Cosby did during the birth of a child, you know, coaching my wife; I passed out. That was many years ago too. Now the only thing that does that to me is a pretty girl once in awhile, but I don't know it may be the pacemaker that does it. Thankfully I have not awakened dead yet, when I do I will maybe let you all know if I'm still breathing.
Hey, where are you? remember me? LOL
Hi, I'm breathing, I think. My Jado keeps me active I tell ya. So yer a sports fan I see. I used to golf, but I learned it was nothing but a good walk gone bad. So I quit. hey, I'm makin' hard cider and trying to keep the parrot out of it, wish me luck.
I did not know that about house plants. So interesting. I don't keep plants b/c of my OCD. But reading the benefits I want to get some. Don't know if I will, but your hub is awesome.
I do something called diaphragmatic breathing, which is distinct from abdominal breathing. It's a kind of yogic breathing which does seem to foster a state of equanimity and well being. A good website is swamij.com. Lots of good stuff there. Liked your hub.
Glad you enjoyed them. No mountain bike riding this morning, so I think I'll check out some more hubs.
I ended up doing a road ride, which is totally boring. Between that and the gym, I think I at least burned enough calories to enjoy a beer with the game. Looking out the window to the wooded area behind my house. Leaves are falling like unpaid bills!
Well, I think I'd have preferred to see the Phils beat the Yankees. It doesn't look good for them now, down 3-1. The Eagles were the big surprise. Hat's off to your Yankees, though. It's truly an all-star team.
nice to meet you liked this hub
It is funny that we so seldom think of breathing, but we can reap so much benefit from it. I enjoyed learning about how much plants can help the air indoors. :D
I came here as always. I checked this article and I am so speechless again. Wavegirl22- no metter what you writting about is always in a good quality. I love plants and flowers. Dunno if that makes me breath better, definatelly makes me happy to be soround by them. Thank you for sharing this amazing hub Shari. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo-missing you! Lizzy
You are so right! Flowers always bright my day. As you know I have a winter garden with my flowers. Winter garden is a green lung of my house. I love sitting there behind my garden table with my laptop and making comments. I have there orchids as I am expert in orchids. lol I have a 10 different orchids. So if you ever come to visite, you will be number 11. Shari. Stay cool and enjoy holiday and believe there is always someone looking for you here. :-)
This is a wonderful hub, I hope one day to be able to do similar ones. Thanks for dropping a comment and giving me the chance to know you and your hubs. And to follow you.
Awesome hub! Will sure try the breathing exercise!























Linda Cardoso 2 years ago
Hi Shari,
I really enjoyed your article on breathing. It's so true and so vital! I'm a breast cancer survivor, so I'm very much into yoga, spiritual growth, and anything that benefits my body, mind, and soul.
It was certainly a blessing for me to have met you. I wrote a pretty cool article, which was published in a few newspapers and a magazines. It was all about my experience with breast cancer. I should post it.
I love writing. It's like having an internal release.
Take care and let me know when you post something else.
Blessings,
Linda Cardoso