Health&Wellness Magazine August 2014 | Page 13

For advertising information visit www.samplerpublications.com or call 859.225.4466 | August 2014 Breathing Techniques By Charles Sebastian Fascinating, that so many of us go through our (hopefully) four score years and ten without a great deal of thought about the essentials that govern us every day. The third of our day spent in bed; food intake; the quality of air we breathe and how we breathe it; the years make us forget. With the pressures of life come inevitable anxieties, which can prove to be too much over the long haul. Breathing can help this, through numerous techniques. Breathing techniques have long been used for relaxation, meditation, and empowerment of the body. Breathing is, of course, connected to our heart rate, which can be slowed or quickened through deeper or more shallow breaths. Finding a quiet place for five minutes a few times a day and breathing a bit deeper than usual and holding each breath to a count of five can slow down the mind and body. This promotes well-being and literally gives one “pause.” In many Tai Chi Chuan and yoga practices, one finds a specialized form of breathing, involving placing the tongue lightly on the roof of the mouth and breathing in and out through the nose. This “warms” the breath through the nasal cavity and allows a continuous circuit of energy during breathing. While many may not have the time or inclination to partake in these practices, this simple form of breathing is calming and brings one back into balance. Furthermore, it can be done in just a few minutes during a work break. When living with stress for years, a body can become accustomed to it, and shallow breathing seems natural to us. One has only to look at a newborn to see that full, uninh