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Ask the expert
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Find your breath
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By Alison Finney
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Why is it important to breathe deeply?
Full, deep breathing is the key to enhancing your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Watch a baby breathe. You will see that as she inhales, her belly fills with air, like a balloon, and her chest rises. As she exhales, her chest and belly sink down. This is our natural breath.
As we grow older, we lose this technique and begin to shut down. We unconsciously tighten our muscles and restrict our breathing. We discover that the less we breathe, the less we feel. As adults, our breath tends to be small and shallow, mostly in the chest, with little visible movement.
The good news is you can change this. By directing your breathing and learning to work with it, you can regain what has been lost. You can learn to let go of the patterns of worry and tension that hold you back and return to your natural breathing, like a baby.
It's no coincidence that meditation techniques use breathing. Breathing is restorative. It cleanses toxins from the body and mind. It can help you worry less and reduce tension. You will feel stronger and be able to think more clearly.
Alison Finney is a certified hatha and kundalini yoga teacher in Ottawa. She is registered with the Yoga Alliance and the International Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association and is the founder of PranaShanti, a health and yoga resource. For more information, visit www.pranashanti.com.
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