Conscious Breathing

We continually dance with all of creation and our response to it's energy entangles us to different degrees of connectedness and harmony with our surroundings.

Everything that comes into our awareness is a gift from some wider aspect of ourselves. Many of our responses to these gifts, are shaped and conditioned by our past. Sometimes, we respond favourably, if the gift falls into the categories of those things we prefer; or produces effects which we judge as likeable. Our judgement, programming and preferences, often causes us to ignore or dismiss much of what is gifted to us.

As we train and develop our ability to concentrate and focus the conscious part of our mind, we gain a skill that enables us to unite the consciousness around us with the presence of our focus. We become more present. An extremely simple way to unite our mind, with the consciousness that surrounds us, is through the art of conscious breathing

When we connect our mind to the gift of the breath we receive, as it enters and leaves our body, and simultaneously focus awareness on the act of breathing; we facilitate a union with the essence of consciousness. Conscious, or mindful, breathing, heightens our awareness and connects us with the present moment. Conscious breathing can also be used to dismantle our habitual stress responses, by establishing a deeper connection and embodied presence in each moment.

Many of us in fast-paced societies, have conditioned our bodies to operate from a constant stress response in our autonomic nervous systems. The autonomic nervous system can get stuck in repetitive chronic sympathetic response patterns. In this situation, the body is locked in an alert state, commonly referred to as a state of fight-or-flight. This chronic stress response causes an overactive mind, poor health, and a disconnection from the gift of awareness.

Focusing on breathing and relaxing, is the most effective way to recalibrate our nervous system. When you free up your breathing, you become brighter, more healthy and more resilient. Conscious breathing also facilitates the release of accumulated stress, stuck emotional tension, and toxins.

These days, this type of knowledge is virtually mainstream. It is common in many relaxation visualisations to imagine all the negativity of the day, including bodily tension, or mental anxiety, to leave the body on each exhale. This acknowledges the innate power in our breath to rid ourselves of spirit disturbance. Likewise, in many visualisations we 'inhale' a purifying and healing light, acknowledging the innate power of our breath to heal ourselves.

When we synchronise our breathing to our movement and apply the focus of mind, this increases our Jing Qi energy. (see article on ‘Fuel your awakening’ for a detailed explanation). There are subtle energies that are transmitted through breath, which have been given different names in many traditions: Ki, Chi, Qi, Prana, Kundalini. Attention magnifies and directs energy - or as we used to say in class: ‘where the mind goes, energy follows”. With enough accumulation of energy (you can learn energy accumulation techniques in our Qigong classes) and meditative absorption, new levels of awareness light up and finer spiritual dimensions of interconnection are observed.

Breath is sacred. It animates our body, it gives force that carries the power of our words, cries and songs. It helps us purify ourselves and our cells. It is the carrier frequency of language; facilitates the transmission of wisdom (and ignorance) and power. Breath has always been synonymous with Spirit and Soul in the English Language. The English word Spirit, derived from the Latin verb Spirare, meaning “breathe,” is the source of a number of words, that expand the notion of the subtle energy of Breathe: Aspire literally means “breathe on”; Conspire (“breath together”) is to plot or scheme with others; multiple plotters are also called Conspirators, and Conspiracy is a synonym for plot. Expire means “breathe out” (In Latin, expirare also meant “die,” ) The literal meaning of Inspire is “breathe in”; Perspire, meaning “breathe through,” associated with sweating; Respire (“breathe again”).

Whatever we may believe about our Soul and Spirit, our breath, and how we breathe, is intimately connected with all aspects of our being. In Shamanic healing, breath is a critical aspect of Soul Retrieval. It is how we draw in a missing soul fragment, and how we give it to the person in need of healing. In some Siberian cultures, breathing the soul portion into the appropriate parts of the body was the only way the soul portion could be restored.

In some cases, we are able to bring back our own Soul Portions while meditating, or practicing Tai Chi or Qigong (two conscious breathing practices). We might notice that we breathe easier, or that suddenly we take a deep breath or a long exhale. It is our own soul integrating what was missing. We breathe it in, and circulate our spirit back through our body again, and likewise we can breathe out what no longer serves us.

In Taoist Philosophy, the Lung is the obvious associated organ. Lung energy is used to make boundaries between the inner and the outer world. A clear boundary is established to defend and define a person. The Lung system controls Boundaries (Skin), Breathing (Respiratory System) and Renewal (Colon). The Lung is primarily responsible for physical vitality and is said to govern Ki energy in the body.

There is another aspect of breathing that some of our regular energy trainers notice: the apparent phenomenon of Breathing through our skin or feet. The skin is like an outer lung and our pores are the ‘doors of Ki’. The skin breathes and exchanges energies with the outer environment. The following chart illustrates how the way you breath affects your energy levels and vitality.

Your Breathing affects your Vitality and Energy Levels

Skin and Feet breathing are greatly enhanced by applying attention. In order to experience the energetic exchange at the boundaries of the skin, we have to drop into a calm and meditative state; and if we become aware that we have spontaneously initiated this type of breathing, we will also notice that we are calm, alert and feel connected to a greater consciousness - that is the gift of conscious breathing. Skin and Feet breathing requires our energy pathways to be fully cleared and open and our lower energy centre needs to be full. This is the focus of our Qigong training.

The skin has a protective energy layer beneath it, known as Wei Qi (by Chinese medicine) which is said to defend the body against invasion from pathogenic forces.

The condition of our outer world, affects our lung energy, as understood by those who practice Feng Shui (phonetically pronounced as Fung Shwey). Clearing up our environment can be a way that we externally support the Lung function and may well bring more clarity into our emotional and mental life. A person’s aesthetic life is an outer manifestation of the state of the Lung energy. Attending to beauty and order, making art both of our daily environment, and of life, will also support and nourish the Lung and assist the connection.

The Lung’s role as boundary-keeper may be metaphorically extended to the boundaries we keep in our own home; our relationships; and metaphysical activities. Well-maintained fences, sensible security, clean windows and a well-kept exterior; creating psychic protection and privacy are expressions of Lung energy.

Finally, Learning to value who we are, and what we do will attract respect from our peers. This nourishes our Lung energy. Deeply exploring what we value, and finding ways to express those values in the world, helps open us to the energy of the Lung.